Northern Hawk Owl

It's always a treat to see a rare northern hawk owl in our area.  The people who know about it are letting it hunt naturally.  This may be one of the few owls that isn't being fed. The regulars there like it that way and would talk about it if it were being fed.  Birders visit often too.

What you get in return is watching the owl behaving naturally. It has a lot of food stashed away in the various trees and goes to it often.  It doesn't hunt as much these days and some speculate the owl may be getting ready to move back north so is consuming its stored food before leaving.

A number of us watched up close as the owl tore into one of its stored food items on top of this snag.  In the photo it had just finished eating.  The regulars have seen it catching voles, moles, field mice and even rats.

Canon 7D MK2, 500 f4 II and Gitzo.  Thanks for looking.