Unless we get a cold snap very soon I likely won’t be photographing Barn Owls in flight again this season so I thought they deserved one last look.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I photographed this one two months ago at Bear River MBR as it hunted one of the canal edges just after dawn. Barn Owls are the most trusting birds of prey I photograph in flight. Most raptors veer away long before they get near my pickup but if one of these owls has a destination in mind it doesn’t seem to care if I’m in or near its path, it just continues on its way. I’ve often had Barn Owls fly within about 30′ of my pickup and when they do they typically don’t even seem to be concerned enough to look my way. The real trick to photographing them in flight is finding them in the first place.
I like several things about this image including the soft warm light on the owl, the layered background at bottom, the complementary colors of bird and vegetation, the catch light in the owl’s eye (difficult to get in this species) and the feeling of peacefulness and tranquility the image gives me. I can almost hear the quiet of the refuge at that time of morning.
Ron
Note: Recently I’ve had a life-altering event. A runaway metal post (it couldn’t have been MY fault…) bashed the left rear quarter panel of my pickup and left a minor dent that has been driving me nuts so it’ll be in the shop for the next few days for body work. This is a big deal for me. I haven’t been without a pickup for years and I’m feeling pretty vulnerable and out-of-place in my little puddle-jumper Kia rental that seemingly drags my butt on the pavement when I’m driving it.
I only mention this because the Kia isn’t set up for bird photography (my lens caddy won’t work in it for example but there are also other issues) so at this point I’m unsure if I’ll be photographing birds again before Thursday. The timing is particularly unfortunate because there’s a tall fence between me and the kingfisher I’ve been photographing and the Kia isn’t high enough for me to shoot over it. I just know the kingfisher will be gone by the time I get my pickup back and it’ll be another 900 years before I get another chance at one…
All this may alter the “flavor” of Feathered Photography for a few days.
I know I am a day late but this has to be the best Barn Owl photo I have ever seen. Everything is perfect. The owl has his wings totally stretched out and he looks like he is floating in air. The colors are perfect. Thank you Ron. Sorry about your pickup but I bet that sweet little kingfisher will be waiting for you to come back. Wow, 900 years is a long time to wait lol.
Sigh on the car front. Those inanimate objects leap out at us way too often. And then just sit there smugly.
Awe on the owl front. But an absolutely magnificent thing to see with your very own eyes…
Yes, they certainly do, EC.
And I’m awed every time I see a Barn Owl.
Ron, I understand the life-altering event but if it’s any consolation, you can probably rightly rest on your laurels for a few days. I know it’s probably no consolation whatsoever, but the recent series has been absolutely mind-blowing for me. I have never seen such astounding portraits of the life and times of the Belted kingfisher (and I do a whole lot of looking at a whole lot of bird/nature photography sites)!
This barn owl portrait is beautiful too. Opps like the kingfisher don’t come along ‘often’ and I for one am perfectly content to enjoy some of your ‘new’ older work. Let’s hope your truck is finished early and ‘your’ kingfisher does some kind of encore.
Sighted a small flock of Red-winged blackbirds here in Western NY this morning. Seems early but I’m not going to argue with spring!
Keep your chin up…and thanks for posts!
I like the way you combined “encore” with kingfisher, Kim – let’s hope it happens. And I appreciate the kind words about my recent kingfisher posts. Thank you.
I love the plane and slight dihedral symmetry in your barn owl image. No wonder birds ignite our imaginations. If only we could put ourselves in that shape, we could fly–really fly, without that pesky metal tube around us. When I first started in falconry/rehab/education, my mentor called raptors “a stomach on wings.” His words, those and others, come back to me regularly 😀 What a splendid shot.
Don’t you just hate it when stuff jumps up out of nowhere to bite you? Sorry you’re without your truck. There are several things I cannot live (well) without–my Jeep, my computer, my dogs and my birds (who are no more mine than the air I breathe)–not in any particular order. I whine piteously, pathetically and frequently when they’re not with me. Then, I go do the adult things I’ve ignored oh too long. LOL!
“I bet if the fishing is good she will still be there”
Laura, was Morley Nelson the mentor you refer to?
Yes, but Morley’s influence was only one day. A profound day, but only one.
I’m old enough to say, been there done that – except my experience was out birding and looking at Bohemian Waxwings. To get a better look I backed up – SMASHED – into another vehicle who had pulled up behind me to ask me a question! When I got out my face was red and thankfully the guy behind me was grinning ear to ear. My truck was at the shop for a week! Not fun at all!!
I bet if the fishing is good she will still be there!
Wonderful shots of the Barn Owl! Hang in there !!
“I bet if the fishing is good she will still be there”
I hope so Dick, but with breeding season coming on I’m afraid she’ll move on – there’s no steep banks along the river nearby where she and her mate can dig their burrow for nesting.
I put out a Universal call to Mrs. Kingfisher. She says she has to pack and go but can wait until Sunday. She wants you to get her good side. 😉
I’m going to hold her (and you) to that schedule, Arwen!
Don’t know which I like less – those runaway metal posts or mushroom clouds.
Look on the positive side. The Kia gives you a lower perspective.
Love the Barn Owl shot.
Mushroom clouds are significantly less expensive, Dave – so they’re definitely my preference. Thank you.
I was thinking of the mushroom clouds caused by nuclear explosions.
Oh, THAT kind of mushroom cloud…
I think of Barn Owls as flying valentines…just look at that face….
They call it a “heart shaped facial disc” for good reason, don’t they, Patty?
Ron, this Barn Owl is SO majestic and there is such a warm overall glow to your capture. As for your incapacitated truck I can just feel your frustration as you wrote about the whole inconvenient loss of it to a KIA??!! You need extra coffee and chocolate donuts to try and alleviate that frustration. We will check in on you every day to be sure you are alright!!
Jo Ann, I got out shooting this morning in another vehicle so that helped a little…
I’ve heard of trees jumping out in front of cars, also poles, fire hydrants, and rocks.. It’s no fun! The worst part is that you actually feel guilty when it isn’t even your fault! This image of a Barn Owl is incredible…they are so beautiful!!! I like the way the tail shows on each side of the body and I always love the soft cream and sienna colors and the “sprinkles”…
It was a stupid (and expensive) move on my part when I scraped that post, Patty. Stunts like that one really ruin my day, week, month…
I “parked” on a hill, left the car and it rolled down and hit a fire hydrant….you can guess the rest…
It could be worst. Here it would take at least one week to be repaired.
Maybe she loves so much being photographed by you that she will stay for a while…
Yes, it can always be worse, Jorge. That danged post could have hit me even harder!
At first they told me it might only take two days for the repair but now they’re saying three.
Beautiful photo for all the reasons you mentioned, Ron. 🙂 Sounds like you need an old junker to pursue the birds on gravel. 🙂 Hopefully both the irritations of the dent and not having your truck end promptly on Thursday and the kingfisher is still there. 🙂
I can only hope, Judy. Thanks.
Pesky metal post. Well, at least you’re okay. Love your barn owl … he’s a doozie, as is your image. Hey … Thursday’s only day after tomorrow. Take a deeeeep breath … let it out …. ahhhhhh … now. Go clean your lenses.
; ))
Made me LOL, Lois. Thanks, I needed that!
Hope you get your blind back soonest. Love this picture.
“Hope you get your blind back soon”
That’s exactly right, Marilyn – my pickup is my mobile blind. I could try to photograph the kingfisher on foot but that would only stress it and scare it off.
You nailed this one Ron. Operator skill, coupled with excellent gear equals exceptional images.
Well done. Now all you have to do today is take care, be safe, and stay well.. ;-)))
Thank you, Roger.