Great Gray Owl


Posted by OntPhoto on Fri Feb 17, 2017 7:00 am

All times are UTC-05:00

Reply to topic  
 First unread post  | 7 posts | 
Image
Great gray owls were a bit slow moving into the Ottawa area this winter but there are a number of them here now.  A nice irruption in eastern Ontario and western Quebec.

The one I photographed was actively hunting on its own.  It would fly from perch to perch listening for prey below.  Often it did not get anything and would then fly to another spot to listen again. 

With many people feeding owls these days, I miss this part of their natural behaviour.  I am most looking forward to seeing a great gray owl catch a vole and fly it back in its beak to a perch to consume, which I often saw back in 2004. 

This photo was taken after it had flown down to catch something.  I was far away so did not see if it was successful.  It then flew back up to another perch when I took this photo.

Canon 7D MK2, 400 5.6L and handheld under overcast skies.  Thanks for looking.

User avatar
Posted by:
OntPhoto
Forum Contributor
Location: Ottawa, Ontario. Canada.
Posts: 7042
Joined: 9 Dec 2006

   

by david fletcher on Fri Feb 17, 2017 2:16 pm
User avatar
david fletcher
Moderator
Posts: 34370
Joined: 24 Sep 2004
Location: UK
Member #:00525
Like this. Grey on grey.. Nice comp too. much to enjoy
Make your life spectacular!

NSN00525
 

by Homer on Sat Feb 18, 2017 12:43 am
Homer
Forum Contributor
Posts: 18229
Joined: 7 Jan 2007
Location: Toronto,Ontario,Canada
Wow,well captured, I really like the setting,and mood.Awesome image.
 

by Karl Egressy on Sat Feb 18, 2017 8:59 am
User avatar
Karl Egressy
Forum Contributor
Posts: 39590
Joined: 11 Dec 2004
Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Member #:00988
I witnessed this natural hunting a few years ago, exactly the way you describe, Wilson.
When it caught a Vole or Field Mouse, it swallowed it so fast that there was no chance to take a picture of it.
Nice image, showing the winter habitat.
 

by LynnS on Sat Feb 18, 2017 2:58 pm
User avatar
LynnS
Forum Contributor
Posts: 12706
Joined: 3 Apr 2007
Location: SoCal
Wilson, lovely owlscape capture, moody and cold, great with the intense look in eyes.  When I saw the thumbnail, I thought the owl was levitating, but now see it's on very slender branches :).
Lynn
 

by leigha on Sat Feb 18, 2017 10:25 pm
User avatar
leigha
Forum Contributor
Posts: 1249
Joined: 25 Jan 2017
Beautiful natural setting - nicely done.
 

by LHays on Wed Feb 22, 2017 12:44 pm
User avatar
LHays
Lifetime Member
Posts: 12363
Joined: 17 Aug 2003
Location: Northern Kentucky
Member #:00040
Love the habitat and smaller in frame for this Great Gray Owl. Such a pleasing image.
Lana Hays
NSN 0040
[url]http://www.lanahays.com/[/url]
 

Display posts from previous:  Sort by:  
7 posts | 

Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group