Northern Hawk Owl

My favourite owl to see in the winter. First of all, it is on the tame side so getting close is seldom an issue. It is also really darn cute. And it hunts only during daylight hours making for a great photography subject.

Photographed this one recently on a sunny day under a bright blue sky. Winds were calm. The owl is hunting on its own so hard to predict where it will fly to so no fancy ideal perches like in the past when people would be feeding these type of owls. I hear it is catching voles, mice and moles.

As you know, eBird had decided to not provide exact locations of both NHO and GGO starting this past fall.  However, word always gets out one way or another.  Actually, if you are in the Sax Zim Bog area there are both great gray owl and northern hawk owls around. Boreal owl as well, if I recall.  The "Friends of Sax Zim Bog" freely share locations too as does a Listserv and Facebook page for the area.

Taken with my Canon 7D MK2 and 500 f4 II with 1.4x III. Gitzo tripod. Thanks for looking and hope some owls come your way too before the winter is over. 

That glowering look it is giving me - next time I do not wear my MIckey Mouse hat with the big ears