Long-Eared Owl

Gallery: AvianPosted February 3, 2013198 views12 comments

This is my first long-eared owl, photographed on Friday at Boundary Bay. I traveled across the border in hopes of seeing two new owl species, the long-eared and northern-saw whet. I was lucky to see both (the saw-whets were at nearby Reifel Sanctuary), but they were all hidden quite well most of the day.

Thankfully, we returned to the bay in the afternoon in time to catch the long-eared waking up and flying out of the thicket and into the open. This coincided with a brief spell of sunlight, so when one of the owls flew out to the edge of a field, it set up a great backlit situation. The perch isn't natural of course, but I'm not complaining. Any day that you find two new owl species is a good one.

The small gallery from my day at Boundary Bay and Reifel can be viewed on my website.

Canon 1DX
Canon 500mm f/4 IS
ISO 800
1/1250th
f/5.6

Max

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 3, 2013 at 12:54 PM

Incredible lighting, nice look at the eye - rim lighting plus a good perch. You put all the elements together in this image.

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

Comment posted by John Neukirch on February 3, 2013 at 1:47 PM

An awesome image. I love the warm light with all the earthy colors of the owl, perch and BG. Really makes for an inviting photograph.

Registered on July 9, 2012, 207 Posts, 1476 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on February 3, 2013 at 2:35 PM

Nice comp Max. I like your decision on where to cut off the BG with just seeing the top of what looks to be some sort of wild grass or wheat. But since this shot has so much negative space, I find myself wanting to see it larger so I can view the owl a little more as well.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on February 3, 2013 at 3:30 PM

Very well presented with this gorgeous comp. Excellent colors!

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on February 3, 2013 at 5:38 PM

Just lovely , the light is beautiful!

Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Nichols on February 3, 2013 at 5:52 PM

Just gorgeous Max. I love the light shining on the front of the owl and on the background. Wow!

Registered on November 7, 2007, 161 Posts, 1420 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on February 3, 2013 at 6:27 PM

the thumbnail just doesn't do this one justice, Max. beautiful setting and the light on the face really makes the shot.

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

Comment posted by Mike Martin on February 3, 2013 at 11:39 PM

A very nice shot, Max. No one will notice the fence post as the rest of the scene draws you into the shot. The comp is great, the lighting a little weak on the bird but just an overall pleasing shot of this gorgeous creature. It's always fun to capture a new speciies and you did very well on this one! Mike

Registered on January 25, 2013, 4 Posts, 6 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on February 4, 2013 at 3:25 PM

Very nice light on the background which provides an attractive rim lit frame for the seemingly rare owl species for our area. Nice details in the owl too.

Sweet One Max!!!

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 4, 2013 at 5:20 PM

Beautiful backlight and nice exposure of the owl, Max. I checked your gallery and it looks like you had a nice day.

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

Comment posted by Dave Walz on February 5, 2013 at 2:07 PM

Very nice image. It is almost like the owl is looking back over his shoulder at you. I really like the way your subject is off to one side of the frame. I always end up centering my subject and it gets kind of boring.

Registered on September 26, 2011, 22 Posts, 67 Comments

Comment posted by Sandra Hendrikse on February 6, 2013 at 7:50 AM

Beautiful shot. I like it a lot.

Registered on January 23, 2008, 48 Posts, 769 Comments