Eye Level with a Snowy Owl...my best shot

[Gary Fairhead]

After shooting this owl in flight (my thread from a couple of days ago), he/she landed approximately 400-500 feet away on a fence post in a farmer's field. I crossed/skated the ice covered field ( from freezing rain a couple of days prior) and managed to get a few shots before she said goodbye. Again ...only flew another 300-400 feet but I didn't want to stress her so I backed off. You can see the ice on the vegetation in the shot. The Owl is in that classic pose of looking over her back. I hope you like the images as much as I enjoyed the experience.:D ,,,


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a300/g2a/Holding%20Pattern/Owlposting.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a300/g2a/Holding%20Pattern/owlexit.jpg

[Wayne Wood]

are you kidding me It's an awesome shot I tried again this afternoon but again it eludes me :mad:

[Ferco]

lol. yes i agree this an excellent shot!! Well done.

[HJMinard]

Yes - excellent. Very nice lighting.

[DirtyRed]

Great shot. Congratulations.

[johngraham2002]

super shots bere but what makes them even better is that they are shot in a natural envoirnment

[mojo_uk]

I agree Gary, this is the best shot so far. All your Snowy Owl photos are very nice, made all the better for being taken in the wild. Keep up the excellent work.

[Dimitri_V]

After shooting this owl in flight (my thread from a couple of days ago), he/she landed approximately 400-500 feet away on a fence post in a farmer's field. I crossed/skated the ice covered field ( from freezing rain a couple of days prior) and managed to get a few shots before she said goodbye. Again ...only flew another 300-400 feet but I didn't want to stress her so I backed off. You can see the ice on the vegetation in the shot. The Owl is in that classic pose of looking over her back. I hope you like the images as much as I enjoyed the experience.:D ,,,


I don`t think thats posible Gary mate.:lol::lol:
No matter how much i love your shots.:D

[KaplanMultimedia]

Awesome shots in the natural environment Gary. Thanks for posting. :D

[Gary Fairhead]

liv2trip are you kidding me It's an awesome shot I tried again this afternoon but again it eludes me
1 Hour Ago 06:02 PM

Eventually you will see it Wayne.. A few days before this I saw one but it was so far away I would have needed a Sigmonster with a couple of 2X converters. I take Wall road every time I go into that area looking for the Northern Hawk Owl but I found this Snowy on my way home when I least expected it. Thanks for looking and commenting:)

[Reigh Higgins]

Beautiful bird and shots !!

[snowrdr]

I found this Snowy on my way home when I least expected it. Thanks for looking and commenting:)

Isn't it funny how that happens? Great work on an awesome subject! :cool:

[Blackburnian]

Stunning shot of THE bird of this winter (along with Mr Hawk owl that is...).

Love the head turn and natural surroundings. Nice and close with plenty of detail and lighting is good .

Flight shot is kool but I think we have to train them to fly in our direction!

Keep it up and maybe by the end of this season we can get together and share our Nordic owl pics over a coffee.

Frame it!

[Gary Fairhead]

richardmincher lol. yes i agree this an excellent shot!! Well done.
HJMinard Yes - excellent. Very nice lighting.
DirtyRed Great shot. Congratulations.
johngraham2002 super shots bere but what makes them even better is that they are shot in a natural envoirnment

Thanks guys ....much appreciated. Here is a similar shot taken moments before the other shot. I was shooting as I approached knowing he/she could lift off at anytime. I say he or she.......the adult males are usually whiter. The females and juveniles are more patterned like this one. I get a sore neck evrytime I look at these guys ;) .Thats a farm building on the left side background.Thanks again!

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a300/g2a/Holding%20Pattern/owl2post.jpg

[Blue Deuce]

what a pretty bird and very well done shot.

I am so jealous of you guys and your owls I am half tempted to cash in some miles and fly up there just to see them.

[Tess320]

Wow, beautiful shot. I keep looking at it....that's always a good sign..hehe.

Nat

[Gary Fairhead]

mojo_uk I agree Gary, this is the best shot so far. All your Snowy Owl photos are very nice, made all the better for being taken in the wild. Keep up the excellent work.

A special thanks Mark. I know you love the Snowys by your avatar and previous comments. It can be very frustrating at times finding them but when you do see them and actually get get close enough to get 1 or more shots to remember the experience it all becomes worth it. I saw another yesterday and if I could have pulled my car over ( couldn't..car behind me and no room) it could have been the best opportunity. When I turned around and returned ( not even 2 minutes) the Snowy was gone and I did not see it again. There is an element of luck as its quite imposiible to predict where these birds are and they are so well camouflaged in the snow.......I will keep looking when I can. Thanks again:)

[dancad]

OK Gary, now you've got to stop it as this is gonna cost me major vacation time off work just to try to get close enough to he/she! Isn't the Owl hunt great this year? Last year the Great Grays and now the Hawk Owl and Snowys. I actually like your third shot best here as the included environment and the OOF farm is exactly how and where we see it (apart from the electrical posts).
Now off to call my boss for another day off! (I wish)

[sparker1]

Outstanding shots, like always from you.

[Gary Fairhead]

dv2004
I hope you like the images as much as I enjoyed the experience. ,,,

I don`t think thats posible Gary mate.
No matter how much i love your shots.

Well Dimitri I have to tell you the experience is somewhat humbling and although I will be happy with these shots if that is it for the winter....I would still love to see this owl again even if just to observe it. Thnaks for your kind words:)

KaplanMultimedia Awesome shots in the natural environment Gary. Thanks for posting.
Thanks Joel....really like those 2 series you shot with the 70-200mm f 2.8 ,, have you considered a 1.4X or 2x tc vs a 100-400? At least in the interim..canon 1.4x would give you another 80 mm and still be an F4 with no loss of clarity..

Reigh Higgins Beautiful bird and shots !!

Thanks Reigh:)

snowrdr Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary Fairhead
I found this Snowy on my way home when I least expected it. Thanks for looking and commenting

Isn't it funny how that happens? Great work on an awesome subject!
Good to have the camera within arm's reach...you just never know:) Thanks for looking and commenting

[busbyea]

Simply Stunning captures Gary. :shock: :shock:


I was out in the area this morning for 2 1/2 hours; but sadly; came home alone. :(

[ngannet]

Awesome shots. I love those birds and the ice coating all the twigs makes it even better. What a great find!

[Bald Eagle]

I envy your experience, and your great shots. We may have a lot of Snow Birds here right now;) . But, I dont think this particular one will make it to our neck of the woods. Fantastic job on these. Very Impressive.:D :D :D

[Stephen Stephen]

Wonderful Gary. I hope to get out this weekend for a chance shot with my Bigma!

[Gary Fairhead]

Blackburnian Stunning shot of THE bird of this winter (along with Mr Hawk owl that is...).

Love the head turn and natural surroundings. Nice and close with plenty of detail and lighting is good .

Flight shot is kool but I think we have to train them to fly in our direction!

Keep it up and maybe by the end of this season we can get together and share our Nordic owl pics over a coffee.

Frame it!

Marc I got lucky on this one and I know it. I had already promised myself a 400 F5.6 before this day but I think this sealed it.... I was wishing I had that lens when approaching this owl. I could have kept more distance and might have gotten several more shots........I am keeping my fingers crossed for the Great Greys. If even a third of the ones from last year return it could be very interesting:) I am with you on the training them to fly towards us but we will have to catch one first......A friend of mine used to do that years ago( catch not train) when banding Snowys ( very interesting process in capturing) and he would then shoot ektachrome slides with a portrait lens before releasing .......gorgeous shots. Coffee (or a beer) sounds good. Thanks and see you soon:D

[Gary Fairhead]

Blue Deuce what a pretty bird and very well done shot.

I am so jealous of you guys and your owls I am half tempted to cash in some miles and fly up there just to see them.

Blue, the grass always looks bluer on the other side ;) and i think the same thing...should go to Florida for a week.....so many birds I have never seen there as well as many of our summer birds. I have been out maybe 15-20 times this winter looking for the Snowy and Northern Hawk Owl and I have managed to get photographs on 4 occasions ( 3 X N,Hawk Owl and 1 X Snowy) and I don't dare complain about that because I am doing super well at that rate.Thanks so much for looking and commenting...:)

Tess320 Wow, beautiful shot. I keep looking at it....that's always a good sign..hehe.

Nat

Thanks Nat.....that is a good sign:D

[Gary Fairhead]

dancad OK Gary, now you've got to stop it as this is gonna cost me major vacation time off work just to try to get close enough to he/she! Isn't the Owl hunt great this year? Last year the Great Grays and now the Hawk Owl and Snowys. I actually like your third shot best here as the included environment and the OOF farm is exactly how and where we see it (apart from the electrical posts).
Now off to call my boss for another day off! (I wish)
OK I am stopping for now:confused: Yeah the Owls have been womderful :) and I am hoping the Great Greys are in the next chapter. The Snowys and NHO will be around for some time yet so until the Great Greys arrive or don't we still have these guys to keep us busy. Saw about 40 Snow Buntings on French Hill 2 days ago...another bird I don't have good shots of. Take care Dan...see you in the field:D

[delinian]

As always, your Snowys, are a pleasure to view.
Dennis

[Gary Fairhead]

sparker1 Outstanding shots, like always from you.
Thanks for looking and for the nice coment:)

busbyea Simply Stunning captures Gary.


I was out in the area this morning for 2 1/2 hours; but sadly; came home alone.
I have yet to see the Snowy in the morning. All 3 times in the past two weeks have been around the 3 to 4 PM time line. The Northern Hawk Owl has been 50/50.. A.M. and PM. The good news Ted is they will remain in the area for a while as long as there is food and the weather doesn't fluctuate too wildly. Thanks for the nice comment!
ngannet Awesome shots. I love those birds and the ice coating all the twigs makes it even better. What a great find!
Thanks N.....that same ice coating on the snow in the field was great too as it allowed me to walk on top of the snow and stay quieter on my approach.:cool:
Bald Eagle I envy your experience, and your great shots. We may have a lot of Snow Birds here right now . But, I dont think this particular one will make it to our neck of the woods. Fantastic job on these. Very Impressive.
Thanks for the nice comments ....much appreciated.
Stephen Stephen Wonderful Gary. I hope to get out this weekend for a chance shot with my Bigma!
I may go out too this weekend depending on the weather.....it can be as cold as it wants...its the light we need. Thanks for looking and commenting Stephen.
delinian As always, your Snowys, are a pleasure to view.
Dennis
Thanks Dennis:cool:

[Blackburnian]

Marc I got lucky on this one and I know it. I had already promised myself a 400 F5.6 before this day but I think this sealed it.... I was wishing I had that lens when approaching this owl. I could have kept more distance and might have gotten several more shots........I am keeping my fingers crossed for the Great Greys. If even a third of the ones from last year return it could be very interesting:) I am with you on the training them to fly towards us but we will have to catch one first......A friend of mine used to do that years ago( catch not train) when banding Snowys ( very interesting process in capturing) and he would then shoot ektachrome slides with a portrait lens before releasing .......gorgeous shots. Coffee (or a beer) sounds good. Thanks and see you soon:D

Hi Garry,

Unfortunately, I don't think the Greys will invade us this winter. There has been a couple of reports from Montreal but nothing for are area (which doesn't mean anything!). But, they would of come in by late November....I personnaly don't think we will see this kind of invasion for many yrs to come.....hoping I'm wrong!

I'll probably go out this weekend looking for these guys and dreaming of great photo ops!

Cheers!

[cfcRebel]

Ah, i'm envious. All these beautiful raptors don't come south enough, and i don't have friends or relatives up north that i can stay with for a month or two. :-|

Nice job Gary. Always a pleasure seeing your owl pictures.

[IanC_UK]

excellent shots, only place i can see these wonderful birds is a zoo or bird of prey centre !

[Gary Fairhead]

[cfcRebel Ah, i'm envious. All these beautiful raptors don't come south enough, and i don't have friends or relatives up north that i can stay with for a month or two.

Nice job Gary. Always a pleasure seeing your owl pictures. /QUOTE]

Thanks Rebel:) I wish we had half the raptors you guys have...they don't come North enough lol

[QUOTEIanC_UK excellent shots, only place i can see these wonderful birds is a zoo or bird of prey centre ! ]
All I can say about (well managed) zoos and other centres that hold birds in captivity is that at least it allows many of us to get close to these wonderful animals. I think they play an important role in keeping us in touch with the environment. Thanks Ian..much appreciated:)

[IanC_UK]

Agreed re the Zoos and other places, heres a couple of mine, much closer than yours, but i would prefer to be able to shoot from further away in the wild ! :)

http://www.cookster.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/10002/1129-155100%20%28Small%29.jpg

http://www.cookster.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/10002/snowy%20owl.jpg

[Balliolman]

Lovely!

[Gary Fairhead]

IanC_UK Agreed re the Zoos and other places, heres a couple of mine, much closer than yours, but i would prefer to be able to shoot from further away in the wild !


Ian, the first one looks like a male (so white) ....gorgeous.. and the second one appears to be a juvenile:cool: Thanks for sharing these, they are beautiful:)

Balliolman Lovely!
Thanks for looking!

And thanks to anyone else who looks or comments........:D