I rarely see Great Horned Owls in wetland habitats so finding this bird was a real treat.
1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 250, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Great Horned Owls have nested on the maintenance building at Bear River MBR for years but they’re too far away, the setting is unattractive and they almost never seem to leave the building during daytime. Typical of the species they do most of their hunting at night.
The only time I’ve ever found one of the owls out on the marsh was four years ago last week when I photographed this handsome bird right next to one of the canals along the auto tour route. I’m not sure what ‘he’ was doing out and about at midmorning but he appeared to be hunting rodents along the phrag edges because he did a fair amount of walking on top of the dead phrags in front of the living ones.
I spent quite a bit of time with him and one of my goals was a takeoff shot or two when he eventually took off.
1/2000, f/8, ISO 250, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Wouldn’t you know it, I cut off one of his wings when he launched but he didn’t go far.
1/1600, f/8, ISO 250, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
He landed in a similar spot a little further down the road.
Here he’s looking pretty dapper, as if he knows how well he’s being framed by the two dead vertical phrag stems on either side of him.
1/1250, f/8, ISO 250, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Once again he wandered around as if he was hunting for rodents in the phrags. Here I caught him in a little alcove in the living phrags that I think frames him pretty well for a habitat like this.
This was the only time I remember photographing a Great Horned Owl in a marsh. I’ve posted other photos of this bird in the past but these four are new to my blog.
Ron
Note: I may (or may not) be posting more older photos than usual for the next few days. Recently there’s been a perfect storm of events that have kept me out of the field including smoky skies, cloudy skies and the inordinate amount of time consumed by the vehicle-buying process and then adapting my new pickup to bird photography. A dentist appointment yesterday didn’t help. To aggravate matters I’ll be grounded all day on Thursday of this week while my new ride is in the Ford shop having several after market goodies installed. With my luck that’ll be the only day of clear, smokeless skies all week.
Just a heads up.
It is amazing that the owl picked not only one but two unobstructed views. The phrags are my nemesis, trying to focus in between the canes, especially if it’s breezy.
BTW, Ron– the instant I saw that clipped wing in the first shot I knew you would be agonizing. It just can’t compare with that trip to the dentist. Get over it!
Handsome bird. You never know what you are going to see and where.
Sensational series Ron! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Charlotte.
My favorite owl species (sorry, Shorties — you’re like Avis)! What a beauty!
And I may or may not have said something naughty when I saw that clipped wing.
Glad you were able to get out this morning. Personally, I never tire of your older shots. There have to be hundreds of gems that we haven’t seen (and lots of gems that we have!).
Thanks, Marty. I definitely cussed a little when I saw I’d clipped stuff. I did it twice actually.
I’ve been hearing male and female GHO’s at night outside the bedroom window at least as far back as you took these eye-popping photos. Damned if I’ve yet to see one, though. Even stumbling into the woods at night with a flashlight in shorts and slippers. Sorry, no selfies to share.
Lyle, next time TAKE SELFIES!
Owls are ALWAYS welcome. Indeed too many owls would be barely enough.
Perhaps this one had insomnia? Whatever the reason I am so glad you saw it and that he/she posed so nicely for you.
Good luck with the perfect storm – I hope it clears to rainbows.
I’ll take some rainbows any day after all the smoke and clouds. Thanks, EC.
Lovely owl! I feel as hot as he looks with this crazy hot weather.
Yes, he was doing a lot of panting that morning, April.
He is a fabulous-looking fellow (even if maybe a “she”)! Lucky you to find one on the ground, in the daytime, in a spot that offered such a splendid photographic opportunity. 🦉 Your “oldies” are always “goodies,” Ron, so feel free to use them as often as needed!
Chris, I was actually able to go shooting this morning and found a few birds so I may have some decent newer photos after all. Time will tell, haven’t looked at them yet.
This is the time of year I would most expect to see a Great Horned Owl in daylight and on the ground doesn’t seem especially unusual for me. By now, their youngsters are out and nearly full-grown. They need a lot of food and still depend on their parents until fall. If hunting was not a great success during the night, the owls often obtain more prey during the daylight hours, usually shortly after dawn, but sometimes well into mid-day. When they can get them, skunks are a favorite food but these owls will eat nearly anything. Ground squirrels are a frequent prey and sometimes, snakes and other ground-dwelling prey. They will sometimes wade into shallow water to capture crayfish. At night, they have been known to fly over open water and snag a sleeping duck from the surface. “Tiger of the sky” is an appropriate nickname I have heard used for them. Anyone who has worked with them will attest to the great strength of these very formidable feet. I love these birds and your photos are a great capture of their personality.
Dan, this might be the only time I’ve seen an adult Great Horned Owl on the ground, though it doesn’t seem unusual for recently fledged chicks.
This bird was always so close to the water I actually wondered if he was waiting for an unsuspecting bird to swim by so he could snag it. Never saw him try though.
Yes, I used to refer to these owls as tigers of the sky back when I was teaching. I believe the first time I heard that phrase was in a documentary about the work of Frank and John Craighead back in the 50’s and 60’s.
Great post Ron!
Thank you!
Gail
Thanks, Gail.
What beautiful images, as usual. GHOs are just gorgeous. Their feather patterns are amazing. Makes me ask again ‘How do you DO that?’ That’s an ongoing question for me to ponder!
Oooooh! Aftermarket goodies! My former racer self starts drooling at that idea! But moving into a new ride is always somewhat stressful.
We’re not getting too much smoke here, but I’d haul out the woolies if the temps here dropped to 100! That would bring a chill to the air!! The number of days over 110 are in the 30s. The forecast is to “cool down” just below 110 for the weekend!
Laura, the aftermarket goodies I’m getting are more practical than they are exciting but I’m still looking forward to having them.
A Great Horned on the ground and out during the day…. interesting ❗️ I’ve loved detailed coloring of the guys.
Living in California right now we can not get away from the smoke. It’s Horrible..
Diana, I don’t remember having fires and smoke like you have now when I lived in SoCal in the 50’s and early 60’s.
Thank you, you make my mornings so much better, with your photos and words.
Good to know. Thanks, Kaye.
Lovely bird. We have smoke-filled skies here too. Santa Fe has been battling a big one.
Arwen, I try to not complain too much about our smoke because I know others have it far worse. But still…
Beautiful photos Ron. I have never seen one of our GHO’s on the ground, but where we have the most of them here are in our riparian areas that are somewhat similar to your marshes. As yours did, when they move they generally don’t go far. I am usually able to follow them from tree to tree sometimes not more than twenty five yards or so from their previous perch. I love the sharpness and clarity that your camera combined with your skill produce.
Thank you, Everett.
This is probably the first photos I’ve seen of this owl on the ground. I have not seen this species up close and I believe all the photos I’ve seen of them on birding sites, they are high up in trees looking down at the photographer. He certainly is a beauty! He fits into this landscape beautifully! 😍
Kathy, a Facebook friend also mentioned how unusual it was to find this species on the ground. I should have mentioned that in my post.
Beautiful! LOVE GHO’s 🙂 Can’t tell if he’s got his “horns” pinned back a bit or they’re a bit shorter than I’m used to? Of course, taking off with that wing span…….. 😉 None in the yard for us again this year – sad. Smoke and issue here off/on at present and the heat is oppressive…… 🙁
Judy, he kept his ear tufts mostly pinned back for most of the time I was with him.
Heat is oppressive here too. Yesterday we hit 100° for what seems like the umpteenth time this summer.
Fantastic – Great shots, beautiful images!!
Many thanks for sharing! Stay safe.
Thank you, Dick.