Barn Owls in flight in full daylight always get my juices flowing.
1/2000, f/8, ISO 400, Canon 40D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
My bird photos don’t come much older than this one. It was taken almost 16 years ago, in February of 2008, on one of those magical mornings at Farmington Bay WMA that we rarely have any more. The entire refuge, including the phrags we see at the bottom of the frame, was covered with hoarfrost and the air was thick with moisture that bordered on fog down low.
While hunting voles this Barn Owl flew in front of the stand of phragmites several times but back then my tracking skills were rudimentary at best so I was having difficulty getting and keeping the owl in the frame, much less in focus. This is one of the few sharp shots I got. Even as long ago as the photo was taken, I remember this particular morning well. I was shooting from my tripod while standing in fairly deep snow. Frozen toes, fingers and ears always seem to sharpen my memory.
I’ve never published this photo before because the owl wasn’t large in the original frame and I was using an older, low pixel density camera. But when I played with the image last night I thought it held up pretty well, given its limitations.
Besides, it’s a Barn Owl in flight in full daylight. For me that’s always been pretty special.
Ron
What beauty! The bird the background the colors..magic.
You are an artist.
Take Care,
Kaye
“You are an artist”
Thanks, Kaye. If that’s occasionally true, it’s largely a matter of luck.
Gorgeous bird, gorgeous memory! Ellensburg WA gets hoarfrost – a couple of years ago we were heading down to Yakima early in the AM, and everything was totally covered – trees, fields, the sagebrush and chamisa along the highway, the fence at the rest area on I-82. It was enchanting! So I’m picturing your owl in that setting – wow!
Enjoyed your family history post – you really have gone down the rabbit hole!
Thanks, Carolyn. Enchanting is a good word for it.
VERY, very special. Even knowing that the owl was out in daylight because conditions were bad for it.
Your memory bank is filled with riches.
You’re right, EC. It is.
I’ll “take and be happy with” just about ANY image of a Barn owl–
they are pure mystery and magic all by themselves, and in DAYLIGHT
and flying over hoar-frosted phrags ? No wonder you could ignore
your freezing feet…I love that you had such an experience ! For
Michael– imagine that you could be inside a landscape of brilliant white 3D upstanding lace, all of which sparkles like diamond dust in the sun…….
You obviously get the mystique of Barn Owls, Kris. And of hoarfrost in sunlight.
That is a special photo Ron. I have not seen a Barn Owl since leaving Pennsylvania 46 years back and have never photographed one.
Thanks, Everett. I hope your luck with Barn Owls improves.
Barn owls are so unique and your photo of this one is wonderful. Lots of reasons to remember that icy morning. You have me giggling at your memories of the fellow photographer giving you grief. I hope you had a snappy comeback! Do you plan to venture out Christmas Day or is the inversion still making outdoor activities dangerous?
“I hope you had a snappy comeback! ”
Nope, I just let it slide. That guy was such an unpleasant person you never knew how he’d react. It wasn’t unusual for him to fly off the handle for no good reason.
Our inversion is gone, for now. Still cloudy though. If there’s good light on Christmas morning you can bet that I’ll be “out there”.
Hummm. I hope the nasty guy moved away. It is hard to believe that someone who loves nature can be so disagreeable.
I am glad the inversion has cleared. Seems like it lasts long than it used to.
Wow, what a neat photo. Its wings look almost more than substantial for its size. And look – a catchlight! Way back when. Thanks, Ron.
“And look – a catchlight.”
I was pretty darn happy about that too, Ellen. Barn Owls eyes are so deeply-set it’s very hard to get light in their eyes.
That’s a stunning photo! Methinks you doth protest too much.
Thanks, Burrdoo. I do like the photo but it wouldn’t stand up to printing large – not enough pixels.
Barn Owls are so hard to find anymore (at least in the MD area).
Though I don;t comment very often, I do want to let you know I read and look at your posts essentially daily, and they are all appreciated.
Also want to take this opportunity to wish you a wonderful Christmas, and the same to all your readers.
Thanks for the kind comment, Anthony.
I don’t see them often anymore either. But for them that’s probably a good thing. They only hunt during daylight when food is scarce – usually during a harsh winter. Long, cold winters kill a lot of them.
Certainly a worthy memory! I am sure the image supports the experience.
It does. Thanks, Bruce.
VBG! 🙂 Beautiful shot of the owl. They certainly are “different”……. 😉 Of course, we don’t have them here so have never seen one “live” in dark let alone daylight!
Tennis shoes in the snow……hmmmmm – sounds like something I might have been guilty of at some point in time….;)
Judy, when I left home that morning I expected to be shooting from my pickup so I wasn’t dressed for the cold. And it was really cold.
Great shot! And you have amazing recall. I don’t remember what I did last week.
“I don’t remember what I did last week.
Usually I don’t either, Brett. Or even yesterday. But shooting conditions like that kind of burns the memory into your brain. And seeing the photos again helps to bring it all back.
Very beautiful photo! I wish I had seen that gorgeous bird in the daylight!
Thank you, Joanne. I wish you could have too.
4 Sure!!! Very Special indeed!
Wishing You & All of Yours a “Jolly Holiday”
Thank you,
CJ Jolly
Thanks, CJ. I wish the same for you and yours.
Pretty special indeed! I Have never see a Barn Owl in flight during the day. I think it is a unique and beautiful photo.
Had to look-up “hoarfrost”. It is said that the indigenous peoples of Canada’s Nunavik region has at least 53 names for snow, whereas this indigenous So. Cal. boy only has one. Learning something every day on FP.
“Frozen toes, fingers and ears always seem to sharpen my memory.”
You sure can take some marvelous photos, and you sure can turn a phrase.
“you sure can turn a phrase”
Michael, conditions like that are hard to forget and a clear memory certainly contributes to “turning a phrase” that describes those conditions.
I also remember that I was wearing sneakers while standing in the snow that morning. A photographer standing next to me gave me well-deserved grief about that. I never liked that guy so that helps me remember too.
😂
I agree that is pretty special!
Good. Thanks, Cindy.