Owl Hunting

If I close my eyes and pretend to sleep it will lure the other critters into a false sense of security.
I see someone climbing a neighbouring tree.
OMG!!!!!! Owl!!!!!!!
I’ve got to get a closer look at this human. Did you get good shots?
Learn from the master.

Barred Owl on Low Branch

One evening last week I hiked on a trail and was taken aback by the fact I saw him not far from the trail on a low branch to a tree very close to me. I almost missed him. I backed up and took these pictures, then walked away. I think he was faking sleep because he appears to be in hunting mode.

He gives me the one eye from time to time. He never flew off while I was there.

He occasionally turned around in different directions to spy chipmunks, squirrels , etc. that were moving around nearby.

Before sunset light in the woods is tricky. You either get an owl that is too much in the shadows or one where parts of it and the background are too light. Someday I will learn photoshop so I can do photo stacking.

Get out and enjoy nature. It may take you by surprise.

Funny Signs- Walkens Welcome

Phone Photo

I found this sign in Kingston, NY. It was in front of a donut shop next to a barber shop. It is a play on words using the actor Christopher Walken’s name. I love it when shops have unique signage. Don’t you?

New Life

There is new life at one of the local eagle nests overlooking the Hudson River. More branches are obscuring the view this year. This was mid morning and although there was sunlight there was also harsh shadows. As a photographer you secretly wish the people who own the land would trim the neighbouring trees when the eagles are not around in the fall, but you know that would not happen.

Evidently there are two eaglets in the nest this year. I only saw one pop their head up at this nest. This is farthest up it popped.
One of the parents. They were feeding the babies something, but I could not tell what it was. It flew off and returned.

Other eagle’s and hawk’s nests did not survive the high winds we received with storms this winter and early spring. This nest has stood the test of time. Is this eagle a master builder?

Good Morning Owl

Good morning owl. Sweet dreams. These are all taken from quite a distance with a zoom lens and are heavily cropped.
This owl can be found routinely in a tall pine tree in the early morning sunbathing. I have seen it shimmy over on the branch to get into direct sunlight.

Get out and enjoy the sunny days and occasional warmer weather. There is a lot of action in spring with the local wildlife. Keep a respectable distance.

Barred Owl on Cloudy night

April showers bring May flowers as the saying goes. So far we have experienced a lot of cloudy days and a lot of rain. One day 3-4 inches in one storm. As a result it is hard to get out to walk. There are streams going over the trails in the woods where there have not been streams before. The trails are very muddy in spots. Here’s hoping for some better weather.

Looking for a meal I am betting. The chipmunks seem easy prey. They make noises and give away their location.
Spotted me
Getting darker- bye!

These are all taken with a zoom lens and heavily cropped.

Obsessed Bird

This bird has an obsession with my neighbour’s motorcycle mirror. He rotates around the mirror looking at himself and pecking at the bird he thinks he sees. I guess photos do not tell the whole story here. The bird does this everyday.

Sunny Day
Sunny day
Cloudy day
This bird has yet to figure out what he sees is indeed himself. I am just concerned he does not hurt himself with the frequent pecking at this mirror.
He has been doing this every day for weeks.

Moral of the story: things are not always what they seem or appearances can be deceiving.

Good Night Owl

Good night owl!

I found this one the usual way. This was before sunset in a pine tree on a cold day. I had a hard time getting a good angle with the branches. They like to hide in pine trees this time of year when the leaves are not on the other trees yet. The owl’s mate was on a neighbouring pine tree.

One of the Owls Hooting

Straggler

This straggler missed his flight. It appears he will be the last to leave the party. He lingered at his winter abode. There were four snowy owls on the beach. On the day these pictures were taken and the previous day, he was the only owl sighted. Have his three other beach mates started their journey back to the far north Canadian Arctic?

When I arrived he flew along the shore ahead of me and landed on this tree branch. He was there when I left.

I asked him where his friends were. I told him it might be time to head north soon. I hope his internal clock works well. A fellow female photo buff told me she went later and could not find him. Did he listen to me? I doubt it. They do fly between neighbouring beach areas.

Lots of different birds in the midst of migration to catch this owl’s attention.

All these photos are taken with a long lens and cropped significantly.

About a minute. That’s all I had with this light. Before and afterwards it was dark and cloudy. It was the best minute of my day. Appreciate even small time blocks of sunshine. Stay safe and stay healthy.

Buffalo in NY

This one just wanted to give me these looks.
It makes you wonder what they are thinking.

The weather has not been ideal here. A lot of cloudy and very windy days. Get out an enjoy regardless. Don’t let less than ideal conditions hold you back.