Great Horned Owl in flight
Snowy Owl 40×21 printed on wood
Just got sent a photo of a magnificent Snowy Owl photo custom ordered to fit a 40×21 inch space. It sure looks great with the wood grain adding to the look… Thanks to Sandy for sending the pic of a pic!
Red-tail strength in flight
120,000 people have signed a list nominating the Red-tail as Canada’s national bird, interesting!
Red-tail coming in for a landing
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagles with their two chicks
These Eagles are safely tucked away … you can see them too if you like to take your camera gear on a three hour paddle to get to the nest which is then way, way up in a huge tree … the Eagles took over a Great Blue Heron Rookery which is why there are two nests in one tree as a Heron would. The quiet canoes don’t seem to disturb the birds at all, they come and go and are very relaxed while they feed the chicks. I don’t believe in causing birds to take flight and make a point of leaving with them in the nest, even if I haven’t got my shot. for years I have enjoyed a Monday paddle past this nest and each year this pair successfully raise one or two chicks, fed mostly at the expense of the Canada Goose population. Having said this, the location is top secret!
Red-tailed Hawk
Snowy Owl – spring sun
Snowy Owl “Red Barn”
They will soon be gone back to the far North … enjoying them while I can.
Snowy Owl “Near Miss”
Snowy Owl – Barbed Wire Fence
We had freezing rain along the Escarpment on Sunday, leaving the upper elevations coated in ice and snow. I happened across this beautiful scene, loving the way the barbed wire curled around the fence post to the key subject. One of my favourite owl photos.
Snowy Owl turning into the sun
Snowy Owl “who me?”
Snowy Owl “rest station”
This beautiful bird had a long flight and found this stump and didn’t want to move, to the delight of several photographers who walked right up to her and took a photo or two or three or…. well you get the idea. The ditch under the stump had an abundance of mole tunnels making for good snacks for this migrating owl, how long it will stay to rest remains a mystery, some move on and others seem happy to stay.
Snowy Owl
This bird seems to be contemplating … how many mice are enough or I wonder if I should have my own Facebook following? This is likely the most photographed of the owls.
Golden Eagle
I have heard for some time that this fellow had taken up residence in the Beaver Valley, this is the first time I have managed to get a photo of it, and I only saw it because a bald Eagle was perched near it. By the time I pulled the car over and organized my camera, the Bald flew away leaving this fellow exposed and lucky me I got a “proof that I saw it” photo.
Snowy Owl “big wind”
It was a gusty day in the snowy fields… time to get out of the blowing snow and into something an owl can get a hold of.
Snowy Owl Hunting
This Snowy Owl is checking out a dead mouse that my cat killed, then the feed truck drove over in my barn yard. Just look at the way it’s looking a the dead mouse, couldn’t fool this bird. They were right, she/he didn’t fall for it. Up until now all the birds I have photographed are after rodents that populate the country side. I do have a photo of a bird coming in for a mouse that was set out as owl food from a few days ago, I happened by a fellow who carefully feeds the birds not unlike having a bird feeder in your yard. It doesn’t do the owls any harm and likely helps them survive the winter. Owls eat colonies of rodents, when there aren’t any left, they move on … feeding owls is like providing a colony of mice, when they are gone, the owls will move on no worse for wear and in better condition. I however feel kinda bad for the mice and personally I can’t bring myself to do it. Note: because I am so independently minded, I don’t believe everything I hear … so I have put a lot of time and research into the feeding of owls, and I am satisfied after watching the practice for four years that no owls have been harmed, and I believe many owls have benefited from being fed.
the dead mouse in the snow bank below (more…)
Snowy Owl “last light”
The first image of 2015 the “snatch”
What a great image to start off 2015!
