Barred Owl

I was out at a WMA the other day and came across this owl. He didn't seem to mind me taking pictures but flew off when I asked him to move to a perch with no obstructions!

I hate you guys that find owls in the day time....heh...heh. I never even see them at night. I know they're out there someplace. Nice captures, but you need to train that model to perch where you can get a clear shot. If you hang a live mouse off the end of your lens you might get a good in flight shot....

ajosteve wrote in post #8753244
I hate you guys that find owls in the day time....heh...heh. I never even see them at night. I know they're out there someplace. Nice captures, but you need to train that model to perch where you can get a clear shot. If you hang a live mouse off the end of your lens you might get a good in flight shot....

Thanks for the comments Steve .... never thought about using a live mouse on the end of the lens .... have you had luck with this approach??

They aren't always cooperative, are they. Still, good captures. I rarely find owls around here.

Foliage can be a real pain in the *$£%** sometimes

I'm jealous of your owl series as well---I NEVER see them but on rare occasion----the foliage is no big deal for me---nice set!!

Nice set. Barred Owls are pretty laid back. At least the ones I've seen.

Thanks again for the comments .... this was a life bird for me ... so am happy to have the pictures. I was in heavy growth ... and think I was as surprised to see him as he was to see me. I saw where he landed for lunch but there was too many vines blocking the way for me to get close to him or even get a shot.

Hi Jim, I noticed you have edit Ok on your profile so I hope you don't mind that I took the liberty to clone out a few branches. I have a fare amount of owls in my portofolio but no Barred Owls. This guy is real big on my want list Congrats to you.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

Thanks Rick ... Photoshop and I are not friends ... when I remove things ... it never looks that good.

I can find the birds ... I just can't fix the pictures! lol

I'd settle for being able to find the birds! Nice to be able to see one.

Great shots.

Thanks for the comments ... and finding a new bird is great but would also like a great shot of the bird at exactly the right time of day ... with a perfect background. Beginning to doubt that is going to happen for me ... and as you say .. may have to settle for just finding him/her (don't want to be a sexist!)

The first step is finding the bird and owls are very difficult. Dealing with foliage can be very frustrating. Moving around to get into the best position for the shot (if the bird allows it) and/or changing lenses will sometimes work. In all of your images there is one twig that crosses its face. It looks as though raising or lowering your angle would have given a clear shot of its face.

Consider yourself lucky to have had this encounter. If you are out there enough another and better opportunity will come your way.
Bob

Thanks Bob ... truth be told ... I was afraid to move much

I will be going back ... it is my main hunting area ... lots of variety and close to where I live.