My Little Friend

Gallery: AvianPosted May 14, 2016109 views11 comments

Eastern Screech Owl Juvenile

Thought I'd share a picture of the little owl that roosted in my yard last summer and became my avatar. I love those big green eyes and the way its ear tuffs hadn't grown out when this picture was taken. It has stuck around, and is now grown up. This was a very quick picture with the owl brightly back-lit in front of a messy background. I had to clone-out a couple of the more offensive, brightly-lit branches to make it presentable. As of an hour ago, it was out back making its soft quivering vocalizations.

D3300
1/100 at f/5.6
ISO 400
Tamron 150-600mm @ 300mm
Cropped to 24% of the frame.

Comments welcomed.

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on May 15, 2016 at 8:47 AM

Hi Raoul,

Petty cute with a good pose. Eyes and head are nicely focused. The highlights are pretty bright, but frame the owl adequately............Jim

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

Comment posted by David Schoen on May 15, 2016 at 1:11 PM

Very nice image. You're lucky to be able to get so close to an owl like this. I hope you have many more opportunities to take its picture. It appears that you have its trust. This is well composed sharp where it needs to be.

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 15, 2016 at 5:39 PM

Incredibly cute, Raoul. That big head looks like something out of children's book. Superb detail.

devil

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

Comment posted by Steve Thompson on May 16, 2016 at 11:03 AM

I like this Raoul, those eyes are priceless. A little more DOF would have helped here but I understand the conditions were not the best. Way to make the most of it.

Registered on August 7, 2014, 125 Posts, 2319 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on May 16, 2016 at 11:59 AM

The size of its facial features is amazing. What a cute (and somewhat odd) little fellow. Glad to hear it made it!

Max

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on May 16, 2016 at 12:25 PM

Very cute, Raoul. I'd love to see you post a series showing the growth of this little bird. Very nice as posted.

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

Comment posted by Raoul Breaux Jr on May 16, 2016 at 8:42 PM

Thanks for the comments, guys! If I can manage another shot without disturbing him, I'll try to get a grownup shot of him...or her, I don't know how to tell. Like this guy, when an owl looks at you, it puts 100% into the effort--you can almost feel the intensity! cool

Registered on April 27, 2016, 20 Posts, 142 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Williams on May 18, 2016 at 12:11 AM

This is the coolest, most alien looking little creature I have seen for a long time. Sooooo cute. Great detail where it needs to be, I think the backlighting actually accentuates this very well. Really good detail for such a large crop too.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on May 19, 2016 at 9:04 PM

Crazy looking owl with big beautiful eyes. Well done.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Alberto Patiño on June 5, 2016 at 11:17 PM

Beautiful story and gorgeous picture - how can one possibly hope for a cuter avatar :) Does it recognize you and let you get closer than it would allow other humans?

Registered on December 2, 2014, 278 Posts, 1736 Comments

Comment posted by Raoul Breaux Jr on June 5, 2016 at 11:42 PM

Alberto,
Thanks for the nice comments. During the day when it is roosting, it will let me approach to within eight feet while I am doing yard work. At dusk, I can hear it and another Screech Owl vocalizing, so he/she has a friend. I have an owl house up but haven't observed it in the evening for any activity.

Registered on April 27, 2016, 20 Posts, 142 Comments