Northern Hawk Owl

Gallery: AvianPosted March 5, 2013250 views21 comments

I'd only been to Sax-Zim Bog up by Duluth, Minnesota once before, and that was 8 years ago during the big winter for owls. They were seeing many Boreal Owls this winter, and rather belatedly, I decided to go for a day and a half this weekend. I didn't find any Boreals, but did have some great luck with Northern Hawk Owls, including this guy.

Canon 50D, 400 5.6L, 1/1600, f7.1.

I also have to comment on the behavior of other "nature" photographers. I was taking photos of another Northern Hawk Owl when another photographer set up his tripod and after a bit, said "Are you ready"? No idea what he meant, but with a very relaxed, calm Hawk Owl sitting right there in front of us, this bozo started playing a Northern Hawk Owl call. I really hate how much people use bird calls anyway, but in THIS case??! With the bird right there!?!? The guy said he wanted a "better pose".

Well, he certainly got a DIFFERENT pose. One very calm, very relaxed, very natural-behaving Hawk Owl turned into one pissed-off owl, fluffing up and spreading its wings and tail and calling back at the unseen intruder in his territory. Gotta love what some people do to get the photo...

Great trip though, especially given that right at dawn on the first day, I had my first ever, very close encounter with a wild wolf (photo on Wildlife page).

Comments

21 comments

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on March 5, 2013 at 10:41 PM

Terry,
This is an outstanding capture and a cool pose . . .

Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments

Comment posted by Don Westbrook on March 5, 2013 at 11:29 PM

Just beautiful. Great details, pose, and eyes.

Registered on January 4, 2013, 11 Posts, 332 Comments

Comment posted by David Williams on March 5, 2013 at 11:59 PM

Superbly sharp and a great pose, Terry. I still need a good shot of one of these guys.

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

Comment posted by Jeff Lewis on March 6, 2013 at 1:55 AM

Love the eyes and face, excellent job.

Registered on January 29, 2013, 9 Posts, 89 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on March 6, 2013 at 7:09 AM

Nice image Terry. That bog is amazing and sounds like you had a wonderful trip with the exclusion of bird call bozo dude!..................Jim

Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on March 6, 2013 at 8:44 AM

Very nice. Love the intense stare. Too bad the bozo next to you was one of those photographers that will go to any measure to get "the" image.

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

Comment posted by Rick Turner on March 6, 2013 at 8:54 AM

Great capture and you stories are always interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by Douglas Graham on March 6, 2013 at 10:05 AM

Thats a great shot Terry. Sorry about the knothead who decided it was a wildlife press conference. Im pretty anti-social when it comes to outdoor shooting and just do not like being around other photographers.

Registered on May 14, 2009, 123 Posts, 522 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on March 6, 2013 at 12:32 PM

Great pose, Terry. Excellent job on the exposure. I'm sure that guy wanted more action, but it's too bad the owl didn't grab his recorder and take off with it.

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

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on March 6, 2013 at 12:36 PM

Wonderful shot , great species. And as far as your experience with the other person, I am afraid that it can be even worse.... people hammering on trees to try and make an Scopes Owl fly...Idiots ! Cheers, Hans

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 6, 2013 at 4:00 PM

Great pose and eye contact Terry

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 6, 2013 at 4:11 PM

Excellent.

The number of "birders" and "nature" photographers using playback has jumped with the birding apps for smart phones, and I've had many encounters as you describe. I tell every one of them that it isn't necessary and that it is disruptive. But then I've always had trouble getting along with certain people.

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

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on March 6, 2013 at 4:18 PM

Terrific pose and very nice detail Terry. Too bad about the Bozo you encountered, unfortunately they're everywhere.

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

Comment posted by Krunal Janani on March 6, 2013 at 11:35 PM

the tilt on the Owl & the twig disappearing into it's feathers almost give a feeling like it's clinching the twig while it's falling off on the side

Great capture

Registered on September 16, 2010, 60 Posts, 1370 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on March 7, 2013 at 9:23 AM

Very good detail/DOF and a great pose as it seems to lean off the branch..
The blue BG's nice love the light & shadow across the bird as well Terry

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on March 7, 2013 at 10:09 AM

Wonderful pose and I really like the look from the owl, nice job in getting this despite the unappreciated person that was next to you.
Also I really enjoyed the post of the wolf, very interesting.

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

Comment posted by Kirk Greene on March 7, 2013 at 11:43 PM

Wonderful. Nothing to critique. I'm on my way to see your wolf right now.

Registered on May 12, 2004, 191 Posts, 1578 Comments

Comment posted by Jefferson Silva on March 9, 2013 at 9:58 AM

It's absolutely beautiful. Very good shot.

Registered on December 18, 2012, 162 Posts, 975 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on March 9, 2013 at 6:58 PM

Interesting composition and rivetting eye contact.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on March 10, 2013 at 1:57 PM

Very nice Terry. I too like to stick to myself or shoot with friends because of stuff like you describe.

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

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on March 10, 2013 at 5:01 PM

This is a very serious looking subject. You got a great shot and I love its body posture.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments