Hi!

I've been trying to get a picture of this guy since the first (of two) "snowstorm of the century", but all I ever saw was tail feathers.
My daughter saw him first while I was trying to break some of the ice off our Arbor Vitae. She said a big bird flew out. I didn't think much of it but my older daughter saw it too and thought it was an owl. I've tried to sneak out several times but he always zooms off before I can get a shot.

While I was making coffee this morning, I glanced out the window and there he was. I already had the camera in the kitchen, so I turned it on and started blasting bits! I got several, but only a few were sharp, before he hopped down into cover (the last shot).

I searched on the internet and the best I can tell is that he's a short eared owl, however I'll leave the final identification to the experts.

I'm very surprised that he's hanging out in this residential area. I'm going to clean the kitchen window today and hope he comes back.

All pictures were taken with a K100D and Promaster 70-300 LD. Thanks for looking.

[little laker]

Your 1 lucky bugger
I wish that I had that opportunity, they're all beautiful.
My personal favorite is the last one

[clarenceclose]

We all should be so lucky. Keep'um coming (after the clean window).

[R.Miller]

Way to go! Your patience payed off. I've never been close enough to an owl to get anything reasonable. Nice job.

[slick100d]

Thanks for your comments. I'm definitely lucky to have this guy hanging out in my back yard.
I went back up after posting to clean the window and he immediately took off. I opened the window to clean the outside and he came right back so I took a few more (OK, a lot more!) shots. On the last picture, I set up the camera and slid the back door open knowing he would fly.

In hiding:


No window in the way!


What I've been seeing for the last week:

[clarenceclose]

Like the 'peek-a-boo' owl shot.

[frankie]

Wow, you have some exceptional pictures here! Congratulations.
He can look through 360 degrees by simply turning his head! Amazing.
Thanks for posting.

[roentarre]

That is a fantastic series of this owl!! Great shots. I wished I could have that opportunities too!

[slick100d]

That is a fantastic series of this owl!! Great shots. I wished I could have that opportunities too!

Thanks. I just wish I had one of those *300 lenses of yours!
I guess my $40 pawn shop special did OK though.
I'm going to set my camera out for tomorrow morning, just in case!

[brindlefly99]

Bravo!

Simply awesome! Looking forward to more pics!

[Photochop]

I echo what the other's have said. I love the one where he's taking off and you can see the flecks of snow shooting up and the one of him hiding behind the tree. Kudos to you!

[palmor]

Great shots! I know how elusive they can be. Funny thing is that I was just coming to the forum to post a couple of shots I got of a Short Eared Owl over the weekend, no where near as close as you got though.

Great job!
John

[Alvin]

Wow! You must've come up real close to that owl to shoot with a 300mm. I like that peekaboo shot!

[slick100d]

Thanks again for your comments. I did get a couple of shots this morning but the sun hadn't come up yet so they probably won't be that great. I also went out the front door and out to one side of the house, then had my wife go out the back door in order to get some in-flight shots. He did take off but went away from me. I'll keep trying as long as he hangs around. Work is getting in the way though!

John, I saw you post about short eared owls. I thought it was an amazing coincidence; I had never heard of them before. Your photos are actually in a natural setting, which I like. I'd like to get a real birding lens like the Bigma (50-500). This isn't helping my case of LBA!

Alvin, I'd guess it's 40 to 50 feet between the kitchen window and the trees. The images have been cropped some too. It's pure dumb luck that he likes my trees, but I'll take it!

Steve

[palmor]

I'd like to get a real birding lens like the Bigma (50-500). This isn't helping my case of LBA!
Steve

Oh I am right there with you on that. I'm just trying to decide if I want to:
- Take the plunge on the Bigma
- Get the newly announced pentax 300/f4 and add a 1.4TC although that might still be a little short at 420mm
- Wait even longer and see if Pentax does announce the "wished for" 400/f4
- Get some other 400-500mm prime and add a TC. The one that I see is available for Pentax but way out of my price range now is the Sigma 500 f/4.5. That would be ideal, buts its $3000

None of these things is cheap so I'll probably live with the combo I have until I can convince the wife that "we" really need it .