Northern Hawk Owl

Gallery: AvianPosted February 11, 2011112 views7 comments

I was alerted to the presents of this owl from the VT Birds website, so I drove to Moretown, VT where this guy had been spotted. After several miles of searching along the Winooski River we found the NHO high up in a tree with late afternoon light in and out of cloud and fading behind the Green Mountains. The owl was facing East overlooking a large field along the river, and I climbed atop a 4 foot snow bank in 15 degree temps with 20 knots of winds to get a better POV.

This is a very uncommon occurrence in Northern Vermont and with the large snowfall and cold temperatures being experienced here we are apparently seeing an irruption of this species. From a technical point this image is fodder for numerous nits, however the subject is so rare here that I felt compelled to post.

Thanks for looking.

D300
300mm f2.8
TC-14II E
1/640s @ f/7.1
ISO 200
Pattern
HH

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on February 11, 2011 at 10:03 AM

Great you were able to find this bird Chuck. The angle on the shot looks good, so climbing that snow bank was a good idea it seems. I like the light and the eye contact. I like the comp as posted, but I might also try removing some canvas from the right if this were mine, as I am not a big fan of squarish comps. In the larger image the fine detail is a bit sparse on the bird suggesting a largish crop, but that goes along with your suggestion that the image had a nit or two.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on February 11, 2011 at 3:47 PM

Whoaaaa - good for you Chuck! You made the effort and you got the shot. I'd love to have one, or a few, of these in my collection. As you say, the image has shortcomings but I'd be delighted to have it, and the experience of just seeing this bird.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on February 11, 2011 at 4:06 PM

Very nice image of a NHO.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on February 11, 2011 at 9:01 PM

Thanks for sharing this rare sighting. He certainly was named well.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on February 11, 2011 at 10:16 PM

Well done getting this rarity (for here in Vancouver, too, where we've had one since December 1st)! My only nit is the squarish crop, and I hope you will get many more chances, especially when it gets active.

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 12, 2011 at 2:08 AM

Love the side lighting Chuck - well done and well worth it.

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on February 12, 2011 at 1:11 PM

Chuck,
I love the intense stare and the light. Nicely done!

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments