They're Baaaack!

Gallery: AvianPosted December 5, 2011459 views18 comments

As many of you know, it's an irruptive year for snowy owls in the lower 48 (plus, one was seen in Hawaii!). I'm not a hard-core birder, but I've been waiting for this for some time. The last time we had a large number of snowies sighted in Washington was the winter of 2005-06, right before I got my 500mm lens.

I traveled down to Ocean Shores on the coast that year and came away with a few shots, but nothing great.

So at long last I had another chance. There are currently 7-8 birds at Damon Point in Ocean Shores. It's a great spot for watching and photographing the owls, many of which are quite tolerant as long as you lay low, respect their space and don't simply charge in after them. It was a great day for shooting today, and I was delighted to meet fellow NPNer Ken Archer in the afternoon.

This was one of my first shots of the day, just before sunrise. Apologies if the processing is suspect. Done on my uncalibrated laptop.

Canon 7D
Canon 500mm f/4 IS + 1.4x TC
ISO 200
1/125th
f/5.6

Max

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on December 5, 2011 at 11:04 PM

Not just there, they're seeing a bunch in South Dakota too, after there hardly being any reports all winter long last year.

I really love the composition on this. Great habitat, love the grass and the perch.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on December 5, 2011 at 11:24 PM

Very nice composition with that pose and background, the snowy really stands out in this sunrise, wonderful find, way to go.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 6, 2011 at 6:45 AM

Really nice comp Max. A great feel to this image with the light and OOF grasses. Would love to see a larger version to assess details.

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on December 6, 2011 at 8:03 AM

Killer perch, great lighting and a nice clean white face. There was one seen here on Long Island perched atop a car dealership... looks to be an awesome year I just have to find some and capitalize!

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on December 6, 2011 at 8:38 AM

This is really beautiful. The color palette is fantastic. I really like the perch, grasses and ethereal feel to this. Oh yeah, the Snowy Owl is in a perfect position in the frame!! Nicely done.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on December 6, 2011 at 9:50 AM

Very nice setting and composition. Always a favorite subject that I miss here in AZ.

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

Comment posted by Tonia Graves on December 6, 2011 at 10:46 AM

Max, I like the soft lighting you captured here & I also like your choice of comps as well. This might make a nice vertical image also. Nice work!

Registered on October 29, 2011, 92 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by Avi Hirschfield on December 6, 2011 at 11:41 AM

excellent love that perch and the OOF grasses make this a real dreamy shot

Registered on November 1, 2003, 518 Posts, 2114 Comments

Comment posted by David Williams on December 6, 2011 at 12:10 PM

Very nice capture on a great perch, Max. I've only seen one over here so far, and it was too far away for a shot.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on December 6, 2011 at 1:06 PM

Hello Again Max

This is beautiful, love that soft pre-dawn light, great wide-eyed alert look. Excellnet composition. Sweet Photo Max!!!
I'm hoping you did just as well this morning, wish I could have been there again too.

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on December 6, 2011 at 2:38 PM

Beautiful composition, Max and thanks for the tip. I've only seen one once and that was as it flew by.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on December 6, 2011 at 2:41 PM

I can imagine you were waiting for this ! What a great species and wonderful shot ! We do not have them here, but I am tempted to hop on a plane and fly over to Damian Point ! Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on December 6, 2011 at 5:54 PM

Thanks everyone. It was an extremely satisfying weekend.

It's certainly a subject that requires some patience and delicacy. My legs are really sore from all of the crawling around I did these last two days to get close to the owls without disturbing them. It can be a bit frustrating when you're so careful about the whole thing and spend an hour, two hours or more laying low and allowing the birds to get acclimated to your presence as you photograph them, only to have someone with a scope walk up along the beach a good 50 yards away and have that scare the owl off. And naturally, the birder blames the photographer who's closer.

Ken, it didn't go as well today as there was never a clear sunrise. Completely cloudy, but I counted 8 again and had a good time before heading home.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on December 6, 2011 at 6:23 PM

Wonderful image Max. We have had several sightings in the Northeast and on Long Island. nothing seems to be sticking in any area. I seem to think there is a real shortage of food driving the birds south. There was a report in Hawaii at the airport.

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on December 6, 2011 at 8:40 PM

Excellent comp and sweet light, Max. Must be another bad year for tundra voles on the North Slope.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on December 6, 2011 at 9:01 PM

congrats, Max. wonderful setting, light and comp. great perch too. and of course it's a pretty good bird, too.

what a treat this must have been.