![\"barn](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/barn-owl-2219b-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/p>\nI’ve been wondering when I’d photograph my first Barn Owl of the winter. Yesterday was it.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
1\/2000, f\/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II,<\/em> Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/p>\n Due to clouds in the early morning I didn’t get into the field until later than usual and by that time this bird had apparently eaten its fill and wasn’t interested in anything other than sleep. When I first arrived on the scene it barely squinted at me (as it’s doing here)\u00a0and then went back to sleep. The owl was right next to the road and I figured that because of the traffic the next time I passed the area it would be gone but\u00a0I came by four times over a couple of hours and it was in the same spot each time. Its cryptic coloration made it very difficult to spot and I don’t believe other folks even noticed it while I was there.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/3200, f\/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II,<\/em> Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/p>\n Even as I started my engine and then slowly\u00a0drove past the bird it never opened its eyes so I left it in peace for the rest of the morning. Life is tough for these\u00a0owls when severe winter weather arrives. They typically begin hunting\u00a0during daytime because they’re forced to – they have a difficult time finding enough food, mostly voles, in the deep snow so they have to hunt longer to find enough nourishment. And their demands for food go up when it’s very cold so it’s a tough time of year for them. Many don’t make it through the winter.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"barn](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/barn-owl-2250-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/p>\n