The wind fans out the owl’s feathers as it surveys the landscape. The snow adds an interesting effect to the background.
Have you ever had owl envy? It feels like something is just not right.
Over the last few months I have been like a kid desperately wanting that special toy for Christmas. The seed was planted last winter when I took my first photo of a snowy owl. That really whet my appetite! With no cast on my arm this winter, I was determined to get more and better snowy owl shots. Alas my search only turned up lonely telephone posts pleading for company.
Once I had owls swooping in my head, they appeared everywhere. Blogs, Facebook posts, websites, conversations, dreams – wherever I turned there were gorgeous owls of every kind and description. Friends and relatives unmercifully fed this affliction by gleefully reporting sightings everywhere I wasn’t. All the real and virtual images of these mysterious predators only made me want to find them more.
Given my lack of success, I tempered my enthusiasm last weekend when we headed to an area where there had been reports of owls. I had no idea where to look but there’s no harm in trying especially when the scenery is nice.
I know that the best wildlife sightings are usually at dusk or dawn (ironically being a night owl limits my dawn options). I ruefully noted that we were driving around in the middle of the day. Nothing like increasing my odds!
Suddenly I spotted an owl at the side of the road. Success! Increased heart rate! I madly scrambled to grab my camera and set up the bean bag.
The owl appeared to be a completely different colour than the forest. Yet as soon as I looked down, I had a hard time locating it again. After a couple of stops in nearby trees, I thot I might stay around long enough to set up my tripod. When I looked up again, it had mysteriously disappeared. I suspect it may have still been watching me.
We drove around some more, had lunch, and later found another owl on a wire. At least it didn’t disappear in the forest this time. I took more shots as it moved to different spots along the wire. Occasionally it would give me a bored look with those gorgeous yellow eyes but it was focused on food. What a thrill to share the company of this large, beautiful bird as it effortlessly coasted between landings. Eventually it left me standing there with a huge smile on my face.
My owl envy was cured … for now.
It is such a beautiful sight to see the owl effortlessly flying.
I tried to frame the owl with the tree in the background. I like the effect.
Krahnpix 
Wonderful photos – and description of ‘the chase’. I’m no photographer, but did have chance one afternoon to watch a barn owl hunting rabbits for over an hour in our fields. I managed to get a couple of photos – nothing brilliant, but a lovely reminder of the day. There’s just something about owls!
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reminded me of harry potter 😦
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Interesting!
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really amazing photos! A great horned owl flew right infront of me while walking on a path. If i were facing the other way I would have never known he was went by. Amazing creatures! Great site by the way!
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Thanks. Those owls are truly amazing so it’s no wonder they have such appeal. I finally saw my first snowy owl yesterday and it was a thrill. It was wonderful to watch but it flew away just as I was raising my camera.
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The story and the pictures strike at the core of what most bird lovers experience. Lovely photographs and the story brought out many a smiles. Incidentally I suffer from owl envy as well. I managed to click a spotted owlet some days ago but it was too small, too far away and the light was quite poor. So you can imagine my frustration 🙂
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I certainly know your frustration. Many great photos somehow never materialized for the reasons you mention and many others. Too bad about the owl envy – it wasn’t my intention to make it happen in others.
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Got one today. Finally 🙂
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That’s great – enjoy!
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amazing. I am always so hooked to owls. It is so indulging to watch an owl and yes, having so many species of Owl in the world, one can spend the whole life photographing and observing. As far being envy is concerned, I envy all of you who have such wonderful collection and stories to tell.
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I appreciate the comments. My experiences with owls have been far too few but I have thoroughly enjoyed them all. They are quite indulging as you say.
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Wow! Now I’ve got owl envy… Beautiful flight photo!
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Glad you liked it. Yes the unintended envy has been noted a few times. Sorry about that.
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Interesting! Recently my neighbour took his dog for a walk in the park at the top of our street. It was already dark and he was surprised by something swooping down and spooking the dog. When he looked up, a beautiful owl was sitting in the tree in front of him and he got some great pictures. I was so damn jealous. I had always wanted to see and owl. Even in Northern Ontario, where we spend a ton of time, I have never seen one, only heard them at night. So of course, I made a point of heading into the park every night. (I stopped myself short of borrowing the neighbours chihuahua for bait). Nothing.
Finally I was sitting in the park one afternoon, watching the sky when I should have been watching the kids, and there it was. A huge bird of prey, whose weight made the top of the pine tree sway for a few moments. And then he took off. The only way to describe the feeling was blessed. Almost like the owl gave me a gift. I have never been one for birds really, until my father passed away 7 years ago. Since that time, the things I see birds do, and the timing of these events often leaves me wondering if there is more to it then just chance.
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That’s a great story. So often it seems that encounters with wildlife happen when we least expect it. I find those are such wonderful experiences. Glad you finally saw it.
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These are wonderful! You have a gift for wildlife captures! Keep it up!
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Thank you for those nice comments. I’m still excited about finding those two owls.
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Lyle! Your photos far exceded my expectations. They bring out the best in the world around us–the things that most of us lazy people would never get to see. God is good.
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Glad you liked them. It’s a lot of fun to have the experience and then get the opportunity to take the photo.
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Boy, do I ever have owl envy! These are stunning, well composed and captivating shots Lyle and the eyes that are such an important part of any wildlife shot are bright and in perfect focus. Great Job! Sorry I’ve been unable to check out your blog for weeks due to an illness but I sure am glad I’m slowly feeling well enough to get back online and see what you’ve been up to. Thanks for taking us all along on your day in the field.
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Glad you finally starting to feel a little better. That was a tough one. I appreciate the comments. It was so thrilling to find them and look into those lovely eyes.
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I love this post and you can replace the word “owl” for numerous subjects. My specific ones are “wolf” and “eagle”. Your images of the owl are exquisite and yes, I also suffer from owl envy
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Sorry for adding to your envy! I agree that replacing owl with a lot of wildlife would also work with me and I’ll take wolf and eagle would be a great way to start the list. Thanks for the comment.
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Wow Lyle these are awesome shots, so deserving of being on Freshly Pressed. I don’t think a Snowy would look as good with these backgrounds. I used to do educational presentations with an owl called Mariah, a great horned. Their wings have a sort of furry leading edge, which breaks up the wind and helps keep their flight silent. I had a talon stuck almost right through my finger once, so I can attest to their sharpness. Great Grays are awesome owls. Have yet to see one.
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I’m happy you liked the shots. I wish I could have been at one of your owl presentations – that would have been fun. I had heard about the furry edge – absolutely remarkable as are their talons!
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Reblogged this on See what you think and commented:
I love the owl photo
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Thank you.
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So coooool! Very nice photos!
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Thanks. It was cool to find them!
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Image of the owl in the tree is very nice. Love the contrast of green vs brown.
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Thank you. I agree the green and brown go together so well it’s like the colours were specifically chosen for the photo!
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Those are brilliant photos. I love the bottom one and the photo with the owl in flight. Capturing birds in flight is never an easy thing to do.
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Thanks Jeff. There are definitely challenges with birds in flight. I’ve taken a lot of blurry photos of space over the years!
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Absolutely gorgeous photos. I love when I’m running in the predawn hours and hear an owl hoot. They are so difficult to see!
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Thanks. That must be nice (except go the early and running parts:). I was surprised how quickly I lost them when they blended away in the trees.
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Wow tremendous photos of this magnificent owl. Lucky you to have the opportunity to see and photograph this beauty!
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Thanks. I certainly was lucky to find them and definitely enjoyed it to the full. It made me completely forget all the other days when I didn’t find anything.
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WOW, these are awesome!! I love owls, they’re so beautiful and impressive.. And maybe I’ve watched too much Twin Peaks, but I think they’re mysterious as well. Great, great shots Lyle!!
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I’ll go with all your descriptions of the owl but I think it’s mysterious that gives it the special appeal.
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Simply beautiful. Love the selection.
Cheers
D
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Thank you so much.
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I have Owl Envy. There are some in my woods and I see them in the mornings but have never gotten a good shot. I love that effortless flying they do in the woods. Gorgeous set!
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I feel some of your pain. Seeing them regularly is an amazing treat but to be so close and not get the shot is frustrating. That flying is unbelievably effortless. So much fun to watch.
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They really are amazing to watch. I know with them so close that the opportunity will come. I have a friend in Florida who had a cockatiel that he let sit on a perch outside. A couple weeks ago he put it out and seconds later an owl snatched it and flew away. That owl was absolutely silent.
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I’m sure you’ll get them as long as your lens comes back. I was reading that owls have special feathers that reduce the sound while they fly. I guess the good side of being their prey is that it’s over quickly since you never hear them coming.
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The lens is supposed to arrive tomorrow – of course the iPad is toast and I am without it until a replacement arrives. I never heard that about the feathers. I sometimes see the reflection of light in their eyes at night in the woods.
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The light reflection would be an amazing photo if you could ever pull that off!
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Yeah – my zoom is probably not fast enough to pull it off – maybe a long exposure on a tripod.
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Two streaks in a flowing pattern at night. I like it.
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Oh, no – is ‘Owl Envy’ catching? 🙂 Simply stunning – love the flying shot especially. Your humour sets them apart, too. Nice.
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Thanks. Hopefully the owl humour is contagious and not just the envy!
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As usual, I’m not sure what I like more: your writing or your pictures. Both are superb.
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Thanks Rachel. When it was so much fun to experience, it also makes it a lot of fun to write about.
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Amazing photos Lyle! And you said you don’t have much patience? This leads me to think otherwise! Out here I have lynx envy…seems everyone is seeing them except me!
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Thanks but I got quite fortunate. Patience is still an elusive partner! I have been seeing a lot of lynx photos but I console myself that there are no lynx out here. This envy thing is contagious and somewhat dangerous.
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Lyle, these are magnificent shots of such an elusive bird! Superb job!
My favorite ones are the two with the green background and of course the one in flight!
Fabulous.
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I appreciate that. They are elusive and mysterious which I think greatly adds to their drawing power. Good public relations strategy:)
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they sure are stunning animals – and your photos do them justice!
i went on an owl ecology course once when i studied biology. they are fierce creatures, too, and do anything to defend their young. the researcher climbing up the tree to collect data (weight and size of the young) wore several layers of protective clothing, in the middle of summer. us students just stood on the ground, informing him from which direction the mother was attacking. fun, and fortunately the researchers only disturbed the happy family once a year.
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Thank you. I could imagine that they would be quite fierce in that situation and they have some sharp weapons. I think it would be better to be the one watching that situation.
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Dear friend, Only you could have taken these very beautiful shots ,and the one in flight is magnificent. I am forwarding them to my young friends. Regards, Ganesh.
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Thank you Ganesh. I was quite pleased that I was able to get that shot in flight.
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Ah, I adore owls…. Such fascinating creatures. And you’ve captured this one so beautifully!!
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They certainly have a way of drawing people in, yet at the same time they are a predator which is often not adorable. Thanks.
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They’re the most amazing predators… So impressive. Flying cats! 🙂
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Absolutely beautiful! Great shots of a magnificent creature.
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I agree it is such a magnificent creature. Appreciate the comments.
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As you suggest, your cure is only temporary. Your situation (and you are not alone) brings to mind a French proverb, “l’appétit vient en mangeant” (appetite comes while eating). Since you have tasted the fruit of your desire (yes, I know that an owl is not a fruit), your desire may only increase. Today it is a snowy owl. Who knows what’s next. More seriously, though, these are wonderful shots. I especially like the penultimate image. I’m not sure where I would find an owl, so for now I think that I will stick with hawk envy.
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Thanks. I think your French proverb is an interesting one that could apply to many things – even food. I think it would probably be better for my well being if I didn’t make an envy list!
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I’ve just come down with a serious case of owl envy…
Having yet to see a great grey, I thank you for having this experience and sharing it.
Excellence!
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I appreciate that. I had never seen one of this species either. The trouble with this envy thing is that it seems to know no bounds!
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I think I safely say I have only ever seen an owl at extreme distance and with no chance of a meaningful photograph – there is a place in the south of England where a particular species fly low over the field at twilight and people have been known to get some great shots – so collectively I get the special toy thing 🙂
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Thanks. I think getting these shots is even more special when wildlife is aware of my presence but is fine with it and keeps right on doing its normal routine. An owl shot at twilight that turned out would be quite something.
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Must havew been ‘your lucky day’, Lyle. And we don’t get too many of those 🙂
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Yes, so true. After quite a few “drought days” this one was particularly special. It is important to be thankful when it happens. Maybe that will be a post some day.
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Gorgeous shots with great atmosphere.
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Thanks. It was a lot of fun to be in that setting.
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Your post got me thinking about my early childhood pet great horned owls that were used in a Disney movie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0963438/ My father caught them in the wild and trained one (we named Clubfoot) to do all the “pet like” indoor scenes and the other to do the more “wild” outdoor scenes. While there still are no videos available, I did find some movie stills on E-Bay tonight. Thanks for another typically great post!
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Thanks. Disney was obviously tapping into a great love of owls. That must have been quite something to witness.
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Lucky you (at last). I think owls are my favorite birds. I hear them around here occasionally, but have yet to even see one, much less get a shot.
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I am so fortunate! There’s so much to like about the bird including the sounds.
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Thanks – glad you liked them.
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Great shots. I am glad that you were able to find them. My best owl shots have come as surprises. http://bramanswanderings.wordpress.com/2012/07/19/owls/
I do have some pictures I have taken in zoos, but they just don’t have the same feel as catching them in nature.
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I agree the zoos are never the same. There’s just something special about the chance encounters even if it sorely tries my patience.
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beautiful pictures and story
and to me the owls eyes are full of photographic compassion
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Thanks. I like that description. I can just get lost in their eyes.
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