Tuesday, January 17, 2012

My Nemesis the Owl

From 12-11
Until the last few months, I considered my nemesis bird all those in the Owl family.  Although I am not a long time birder, I have been quite avid the last 5 years when I was bit by the birding bug.  I have done a lot of reading and when out birding, I would always look in cavities in trees and likely owl perches, but to no avail.  I had seen a Great Horned Owl once in someone's scope at 300 yards and for about 1 second, along with decent views on a cloudy day of a Snowy Owl 2 years ago from 200 yards.  Never on my own or in my local area had I found an owl.
    The luck was broken when my son (10 years old and interested in birds) and I went to an area to go birding along the CT river (Station 43) in November.  The area was flooded so we went along a small backroad that often gives many species in the fields and trees along it until it hits the river where you can park and walk along a trail.  I had read for years in the forums of owls there but never seen one.  I knew of a knothole in a tree that had held owls before but not for a few years per the better birders.  I still look in it every visit.  This time I almost kept going before I realized there was an owl sleeping in the hole.  Lo and behold it was an Eastern Screech Owl, allowing us wonderful looks from 40 feet.  It would be easy to get closer, but I was afraid of disturbing it, and left it be after a lot of photos and looks.
From November 2011

Then in December, while out birding on a cold morning on my day off, while watching and photographing a flock of bluebirds, I heard a persistent group of cawing from crows.  Many times before I would follow this sound to find a Red-Tail Hawk or just a group of crows, so I made my way towards the forest where they were but took my time thinking I likely would not find anything.  When I arrived twenty minutes later, I found 2 crows calling a foot away from an absolutely gorgeous and very large Great Horned Owl.  As I slowly approached, the crows flushed and flew away with a few coarse calls at me;  the owl looked at me and closed it's eyes, likely thankful it could let it's headache start to fade.  It allowed me an hour of close looks from 30 yards away, once again I did not want to disturb it, as it was resting.  Many of my photos were taken in auto, many in semi-manual as I was just starting to get the hang of the settings, and this allowed me some decent shots despite the heavy shade in the tree top.
From 12-11
From 12-11
From 12-11
From 12-11
From 12-11

I include several shots as I have trouble deciding which is better, and each shows some different detail of the bird.  It's plumage is just beautiful.

25 comments:

  1. Congrats on breaking your spell of bad luck with Owls Dan!

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  2. ...looks like you've conquered your nemesis bird! These are fantastic shots. I'd love to do as well.

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  3. Thanks so much Mia and Kelly for the kind comments.

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  4. Wonderful post! It's so nice your son can share your adventures! :)

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  5. Howdee Dan~Happy you are seeing so Many owls! Love the photo of the Eastern screech owl!

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  6. Dan, great post! I still just love that screech owl photograph.

    Great Horned Owls were pretty easy for me to come by when birding in Idaho, but the others seem to have been a challenge. Once the curse is broken, it seems like you can see a lot more.

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  7. Thanks Dawn , Robert and Beverly for your kind comments. I think luck is a part of it, but I now know a little more about where they like to hang out and hopefully will see more of them regularly

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  8. I could have written paragraph one of your post....well, I still can!! I look, and look, and listen, and follow crow chatter, but so far, to no avail!! Awesome pictures and GOOD FOR YOU!!

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  9. Great catch, Dan. We have tons of barred owls & great horned owls here. Even got a barn owl this past year and a snowy owl this year (both lifers)! My nemesis is the screecher ... one of these days! :o)

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  10. Wonderful, Dan. So happy for you and love the shots. Very exciting. My best - and pretty much only - owl sightings were many years ago in and near Malheur Wildlife Refuge in the desert country of eastern Oregon. A great horned owl at night near where we camped, and, at dawn, several owls sitting in trees by side of road in the Refuge. They are such awesome birds.

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  11. Lovely images, and very nice post re these owls:)

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  12. Owl sightings are the best! Awesome photos!

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  13. Great post on finding owls! They are such tough birds to find.

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  14. How very exciting! Love all the owl photographs!

    We have a couple Great Horned Owls and Barred Owls living on or around our country property. I only catch glimpses of them, usually when being chased by crows. One year we were fortunate to observe a fluffy Great Horned Owlet for a few weeks, though VERY high up in a pine tree. This year I was fortunate to see a Snowy Owl along the Lake Michigan shoreline ... simply awesome.
    Good luck to you on future owl sightings!

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  15. Thanks so much everyone for the wonderful comments.

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  16. Dan,
    The owl has been my nemesis bird forever as well. Im going to try your destination as it is only an hour or so from my house. Hopefully I can get it off my nemesis list!

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  17. I have the same issue. But I love all the shots. Thanks for posting them. Owls are really beautiful creatures.

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  18. Very lovely series of photos Dan, congratulations on breaking your curse.

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  19. High on my priority list this year is to see more owls. Cool photos Dan!

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  20. Just found your site and think it's great! I love owls and often head out after dark to try and spot things with a nice big torch, can you do that where you are? We've got a Spotted Eagle Owl who comes to our garden most nights and scares the bush babies, so there's usually something to see. My kids also love dissecting the pellets they drop under their favourite tree.

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  21. Congrats! on finding your target bird, the owl, I know the feeling. :-)

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  22. What a wonderful post! Love the photos too!!

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  23. Thank you all for the kind comments. I am always on the lookout for pellets as well, but none found as yet

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  24. Fantastic photos of the owl and a great sighting.

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