Northern Hawk Owl

Gallery: AvianPosted February 23, 2011331 views26 comments

This was from the big Sax-Zim owl invasion of 2004-2005. I posted it way back then, but for some reason I felt like posting it again.

Natural setting. I came across him sitting in the brush in the ditch while driving the area. Wonderful experience watching this guy for about an hour as he just sat on the same perch, never moving. Occasionally he'd peer around in different directions, but he didn't pay much notice to me, other than a few frames such as this one. Wonder if he was just enjoying the afternoon sun after a good meal, since if you look at the large version, you can see a spot of red (blood?) on the plumage.

Canon 300D, 400 5.6L, 1.4x.

Comments

26 comments

Comment posted by David Williams on February 23, 2011 at 8:51 PM

Terry,
I wish I had gone over for the invasion....my brother lives in the Twin Cities and is a birder. I don't have any photos of a Hawk Owl, and dearly would like to have one......I'll get a good one soon, I hope. This is a beauty in every way, and I love it......really well done, and worth another post for sure.

Registered on March 8, 2005, 315 Posts, 2291 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 23, 2011 at 8:52 PM

A beautiful owl in a nice natural setting - I especially like the ice and the lighting on the eye

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on February 23, 2011 at 9:02 PM

Simply a wonderful image Terry. Detail is great, I love your comp with the head-on look and I really like the natural setting. I don't think I ever saw this when you posted it before but for "some reason" I'm really glad you ran it by us again. Excellent!

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

Comment posted by wade pettitt on February 23, 2011 at 9:06 PM

Nice pose and great catchlight in the eyes. As luke said I really like the icy setting.Well done!!

Registered on May 6, 2009, 184 Posts, 471 Comments

Comment posted by Alan Murphy on February 23, 2011 at 9:21 PM

Love the relaxed pose. Wish the BG was not so busy.

Registered on December 3, 2003, 192 Posts, 739 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on February 23, 2011 at 9:22 PM

Terry: This is really nice. Love the intent stare. The details in the image are fantastic. The larger version really shows this off. Can only image how good the original must be. Thanks for sharing this image

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 23, 2011 at 10:21 PM

Excellent. And unbaited.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on February 23, 2011 at 10:30 PM

Great image and story. I had to drive all the way to Alaska to see a Hawk Owl.

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

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on February 23, 2011 at 10:56 PM

WOW!

Great picture! I love these Northern Hawk Owls, and I finally got to see one last October in Waterton Lakes National Park.

I really like the sharpness of the picture, the way he's looking at you, and that he really stands out against the background! The ice on the tree helps make the image.

Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on February 24, 2011 at 2:30 AM

Love the eyes, pose and habitat here - a very compelling shot . Beautiful!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on February 24, 2011 at 6:07 AM

Excellent shot Terry! Wonderful eyes and overall sharpness. Wish it was mine. The icing on the cake for me is the ethics observed in this capture.

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 24, 2011 at 6:45 AM

Larger version is stunning Terry - well done

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on February 24, 2011 at 7:39 AM

Stunning is the word I'd use, too. Simply beautiful, amazing clarity.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on February 24, 2011 at 8:24 AM

Sharp & detailed, the centered comp works for this close-upTerry.
Great BG separation and direct eye contact, the icy perch adds nicely too.
Need an owl in the wild shot man

Well done!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on February 24, 2011 at 8:40 AM

spectacular detail and a great stare, Terry. one to be proud of (and not just for the final result but for how you got it too). glad you reposted it, it is really fantastic. I'd dearly love to just see one of these, let alone get a photo like this.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on February 24, 2011 at 12:57 PM

Terry,
great yellow eyes, beautiful plumage pattern and very nice natural setting. Superb image.

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

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on February 24, 2011 at 1:50 PM

A lovely capture.
It's well camouflaged isn't it.
Well done.

Geoff.

Registered on August 20, 2010, 192 Posts, 980 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on February 24, 2011 at 2:12 PM

Great image, Terry, and I like the setting. As you know, we've had one stay the winter here on the Lower Mainland of Vancouver since early December. Often, we've observed our Owl not move for 3-4 hours, but would look around from time to time.

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on February 24, 2011 at 2:18 PM

I have never seen one of these but what makes this an interesting picture to me is the small perch this large bird is sitting on. Wonderful look and feather display, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on February 24, 2011 at 4:39 PM

Great expression, eye contact and details on this- very well done, Fabio

Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on February 25, 2011 at 12:29 AM

Wonderful capture Terry, glad to see you brought this out from your archives. I had the pleasure of seeing this species for the first time a few weeks ago as they have irrupted into Northern Vermont-great bird and great image!

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on February 25, 2011 at 5:00 AM

Sweet Photo Terry

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on February 25, 2011 at 8:59 AM

I like this a ton Terry. Great sharpness and detail. I for one love the BG. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on February 25, 2011 at 3:21 PM

It may be old but it's very good, Terry. The image has a nice, painterly feel about it.

I don't think this species did well in that irruption; we've not had significant number of Northern Hawk owls in interior Alaska since.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Jeff Wiles on February 25, 2011 at 10:43 PM

Outstanding composition and sharpness- kudos to you! Interesting that you mentioned that 2004-2005 owl invasion; because the same also pulled me up to northern Minnesota. Didn't see any Hawk Owls..but I was fortunate to get some decent shots of Great Gray Owls, just north of Aitkin, MN. Am planning on trekking up to Sax-Zim before winter ends. Maybe I'll
yet encounter the Hawk Owl or Boreal Owl. That place is definitely one of the premier spots
in the country for owl imagery.

~ Jeff Wiles
www.jeffwilesphotography.com

Registered on January 22, 2011, 43 Posts, 46 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on February 26, 2011 at 5:04 PM

Excellent image Terry, love the direct look you appear to be getting, the wonderful natural setting, great detail & sharpness. I'd love, love, love to see & photograph one of these owls. I'm glad you reposted this fine NHO shot.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments