Little Brother (Great Horned Owlet)
Don't think this guy was quite as experienced as his other sibling. He just stayed in one spot and stared me down. I was still about 100 feet away when I took this shot. The adult owls were not concerned. Not sure what all of the powdery stuff was around his face. Pollen perhaps?
Hang in There! (Great Horned Owlet)
Great horned owlets go through several stages of development. This owlet is new to flying and probably not out of the nest tree for very long.
After attempting to land on this branch he has toppled over, ending upside down holding on by only one foot. He hung in this precarious position for a few minutes and then managed to fall and land right side up on another branch below.
Hopefully his last experience with something like this and a good lesson learned.
Out on a Limb (Great Horned Owlet)
Sorry to have missed the show a couple of weeks back. It took me a while to find my own family of great horned owls in Linley Valley this year. Saw two adults and two owlets today. The owlets were just new to branching and balance. Very entertaining. Please left click for more detail.
Watching From The Shadows (Great Horned Owl)
A mother horned owl keeps a close watch on her owlets from a near by fir tee branch.
Missing Link (Great Horned Owl)
Came across this image of a male horned owl at Piper's Lagoon from last August. Can't imagine why I never posted it.
Autumn Colors (Great Horned Owl)
Really liked the background in this one and the direct eye contact. Flickr folks please left click for more detail.
Wings Up (Great Horned Owl)
This one taken yesterday as the owl dived down from the power lines to land on a small light post. Only caught a few frames before it moved out of the shade into harsh sunlight.
Diving Down (Great Horned Owl)
This one taken yesterday as the owl dived down from the power lines to land on a small light post. Only caught a few frames before it moved out of the shade into harsh sunlight.
Moving Up in The World (Great Horned Owl)
Another classic GHO flight pose.
Right at Eye Level (Great Horned Owl)
This image taken in the forests of north Nanaimo. Horned owls seem to be everywhere again this year. Flickr folks please left click for better detail.
Wings Down (Great Horned Owl)
Here is the wings down version with a somewhat better background. Flickr folks please left click for better detail.
Wings Up Version With Background (Great Horned Owl)
Taken today down at the swamp.
She's Comin' Right at Us . . . . . again? (Great Horned Owl)
Thought some of you folks out there might like a close up view of the horned owl I ran into today down at the local marsh. Flickr folks please left click for more detail
Out on a Limb (Great Horned Owl) Thanks For Over 5,000,000 views!!!!
The male keeping watch from another near by branch up in the oak trees. Flickr folks please left click for closer view.
My thanks to all of the people who came for a look at my Flickr page over the past 10 years! I have just passed the 5 million views mark today (August 16, 2023).
Younger Brother? (Great Horned Owl)
Another fledged owlet that appears to be a bit younger roosts on a gnarly branch not too far away from the other sibling.
Keeping a close watch (Great Horned Owl)
The male great horned owl keeps a close watch on both of the fledged owlets.
Down By The Sea (Great Horned Owl)
A young fledgling GHO cools off in the breeze in a small Garry Oak grove near the ocean. Flickr folks please left click for extra detail.
Forest Guardian (Great Horned Owl)
Lots of these guys around this year.
He's Still Out There! (Great Horned Owl)
Remember when you walk in the forest, after all of these years, "Jabba The Hoot" is still watching you.
Horned Owl Environmental
Folks on Flickr please left click for more detail.
Great Horned Owl in Flight
The male great horned owl flies past us as he repositions to another tree.
Out in The Open (Great Horned Owl)
This one taken in somewhat better light. We were lucky to have some clouds temporarily filter out the harsh sunlight. Folks on Flickr please left click for better detail.
Great Horned Owl Portrait
Meanwhile, somewhere in the temperate jungle of Vancouver Island.
Look Into My Eyes! (Great Horned Owl)
A great horned owl stares back at me from a nearby fir tree branch.
Forgotten Horned Owl (Great Horned Owl)
Here is a missed image from a couple of weeks ago. Flickr folks be sure to zoom in for extra detail. Enjoy!
Heading For a Higher Perch (Great Horned Owl)
A great horned owl moves to a higher perch for a better view of its surroundings.
Looking Right at Me (Great Horned Owl)
A male great horned owl checks me out from an old arbutus snag.
Zoom it Up! (Great Horned Owl)
A different perspective. Folks on Flickr left click for better detail.
Keeping a Lookout (Great Horned Owl)
A great horned owl keeps an eye on some ravens from a nearby fir tree branch.
Wings Up Coming at The Camera (Great Horned Owl)
A nice environmental image. Folks in Flickr please left click to magnify.
Flying Close - Wings Down (Great Horned Owl)
Flickr folks please left click for better detail.
Horned Owl Glide (Great Horned Owl)
Had some fun In Linley Valley today with some horned owls. Zooming in recommended.
Horned Owl Portrait
So, it turns out when I am in the forest that "Jabba The Hoot" is still watching me.
I'm Keeping My Eye on You (Horned Owlet)
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Another Nice Hooter (Great-Horned Owl)
These guys seem like they are everywhere again this spring.
Great Horned Owl Portrait
Sorry, I'll try to get closer next time.
Nice Hooter 2022 (Great Horned Owl)
Went looking for pygmy owls and found this guy instead. Who knew? If you are a Flickr user be sure to click twice for extra flavour and crispness.
Shady Character (Great Horned Owlet)
A great horned owlet stays cool in the shade of the maple trees. Taken in the temperate rainforest near Errington B.C.
Three Eyes Are Better Than One (Great Horned Owlets)
About a day before they left the nest. All three owlets are out now. Not sure where the other sibling was at the time of this image.
Only One Owlet Today (Great Horned Owl)
Went to Linley Valley today but could only find one owlet. Nearly killed myself three times trying to climb up to where he/she was. Nice looking bird though. Pretty far along in it's development.
On Guard For Ravens (Great Horned Owl)
This is the male just after a tussle with some ravens. Taken in the jungles of Linley Valley. Folks on Flickr please left click twice for the best detail.
Slower Than a Kestrel (Great Horned Owl)
Did my best in bad light today. If you look hard you can almost see the owl's right eye. Arrrgh!
If you are seeing this on Flickr, left click twice for the best detail.
And Then There Were Three (Great Horned Owls)
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Ready For Touchdown (Great Horned Owl)
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Momma and Owlet Pose For The Camera (Great Horned Owls)
Somewhat better eye contact on this image.
Landing With Flare (Great Horned Owl)
The female great horned owl flares a split second before touching down on the nest. Left click twice for best detail.
Momma With Owlet (Great Horned Owls)
Went to a popular nest site for horned owls today. Would have got a couple of good flight shots but I was yakking to friends and having too much fun 😆😆😆
If you are viewing this on Flickr please left click twice for the greatest detail.
What Are You Lookin' At? (Great Horned Owl)
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GHO or Rabbit?
Horned owls have sometimes been known to impersonate bunny rabbits in order to sneak up on their intended prey 🙂
GHO In Full Sun (Environmental)
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Giving a Hoot (Great Horned Owl)
The female great horned owl joins in on scolding the mobbing ravens. This one shown full frame but downsized slightly from the original for presentation.
Tufts Up! (Great Horned Owl)
On high alert after an attack by mobbing ravens. They don't call them "Great Horned" for nothing.
Evening By The Sea (Great Horned Owl)
It would seem that the raptors are feeling the heat today too. Here is a great horned owl cooling off in an oak tree near the ocean tonight around 9:00pm. Heard the mate hoot in the distance but ran out of light before I could find it.
Another Great Horned Owlet
Ran into another great horned owlet yesterday at Hemer Park in Cedar. Momma was too shy and refused to come close for a good photo.
Profile Change (Great Horned Owl)
Here is one from today. Worked on a new profile in order to get rid of the green color cast while taking pictures in the maple trees. Seems to be working pretty good so far.
Forest Guardian (Great Horned Owl)
More fun yesterday with Dave and Pius out photographing great horned owls near Errington B.C.
Great Horned Owl In Flight
They move surprisingly fast for a larger bird. Pretty tricky to catch a good flight shot.
Horned Owl Blast Off! (Great Horned Owl)
Went looking for kestrels and ran into yet another pair of great horned owls today. Who knew? Pretty harsh light but I did my best.
Out On A Limb (Great Horned Owl)
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Good Camo (Great Horned Owl)
Like the Great Grey Owls the Great Horned Owl is pretty good at blending in. Much better light today with the overcast skies. Went low calibre and used the 100-400mm lens for a change.
Rough Day? (Great Horned Owl)
This guy looks a bit beat up like he is having a bad day. Even his beard is a bit twisted.
GHO Portrait (Great Horned Owl)
Taken somewhere in the temperate jungles of Vancouver Island.
Say "Ah!" (Great Horned Owl)
In this image the female great horned owl lets out a screech as she keeps in contact with here mate elsewhere in the forest.
Keeping An Eye Out For Ravens (Great Horned Owl)
With owlets close by one of the great horned owl parents keeps a close watch on circling ravens.
Hoo Are You? (Great Horned Owl)
I was telling a good friend yesterday that I have a good photography shoot about one out of every six times that I go out. Well, today is that day.
Juvenile Great Horned Owl
Here's what we were really after in Linley Valley today. This is one of two siblings. We think he/she is the eldest. Not ideal lighting conditions but did my best.
Great Horned Owlet on a Fir branch
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Out On a Limb (Great Horned Owlet)
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Me and My Bro 2019 (Great Horned Owlets)
Caught these two guys way up in a fir tree in Linley Valley.
Great Horned Owlet
Went up the road a few miles to check out the great horned owl family and see how they were doing. It's been a couple of years for me since I have seen any great horned owls. Nice to see that there are still some around and they have been having a successful breeding season.
Preening in The Shadows
A Great Horned Owl preens in the filtered sunlight at Neck Point Park.
Another Owl In the Alder Trees
Here is one from a couple of weeks ago that never got posted.
Distant Crop
Took this image the other day from about 150 feet away at 840mm while standing on the main path at Neck Point. Jabba was in the cedar tree on the other side of the alder grove but it still came out not too bad. Kind of neat the way the magnification makes him look like he is on the same level as the camera. In actual fact he is about 40 feet up.
Enjoying the Sunshine
Found Jabba The Hoot in a cedar tree today at Neck Point soaking up some sun.
Hunting in the Shadows
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Another Neck Point Owl
Can't seem to get enough of these guys. The last couple of days has been unusually busy for owl activity at Neck Point. Saw three adults and a juvenile today.
Nice Hooter 2014
Here is the other mate in the pair of Great Horned Owls found at Neck Point Park. I can usually tell the difference by the way the tufts are laid back on this one. It also seems to be a bit bigger than the other one with the stand up tufts.
This image is full frame but has been scaled down to 1920px for Flickr. Somewhat better light today.
Beware of Jabba The Hoot
Remember, next time you go for a walk at Neck Point, "Jabba The Hoot" is watching you!
Environmental Shot
Took off the teleconverter and went down to 600mm for this image. Probably best viewed at %100. The image was originally full frame but reduced for Flickr viewing.
Neck Point Horned Owl 2014
Ran into a nice Great Horned Owl today at Neck Point Park. You could find him quite easily as the crows and the robins were making quite a ruckus. This one best viewed as shown or at 1600px.
Reifel Great Horned Owl
After visiting the long-eared owls I tripped on over to Reifel Bird Sanctuary and managed to get some images of a great horned owl in a fur tree along the path, January 5, 2014.
Hiding In the Cedars
jabba the Hoot was playing hard to get last night and tried to hide up in the cedar trees. He was previously on a perfect perch on a low down maple tree but flushed almost immediately when I arrived.
Nice Hooter
I swung by Neck Point again today and Jabba was waiting for me in the alder grove. Just walked in a straight line from the parking lot and there he was. This image shows best at full size.
Neck Point Horned Owl
Jabba The Hoot returns to Neck Point June 2, 2013
