Owl in The Headlights (Great Grey Owl)
Here is one last image of the great grey owl we encountered in the B.C. interior this spring. Turning his head for a couple of seconds to check us out while he hunted from his evening perch.
Last Shot of The Day (Great Grey Owl)
This one cooperative adult great grey owl perched for us for several minutes on our first night in the BC interior. We got lots of great portrait shots and a much better background last thing in the evening. In the end, we thanked the owl leaving it perched on that branch. Although we made several visits to the area after that, there were no owls to be found. One day can make all the difference.
Great Grey Environmental (Great Grey Owl)
Probably the cleanest background we were able to get with this bird. Had to scale a bit of a hill opposite to it to get at eye level. Although this image is probably better represented as another portrait shot I decided to go landscape to show some of the environment as well. Flickr folks please left click for better detail.
On The Hunt (Great Grey Owl)
A great grey owl hunts in the partial concealment of a burnt conifer. Flickr folks please left click for better detail.
Hidden in The Scrub (Great Grey Owl)
We were only able to find one great grey owl this year. A low year for sightings in general and no nesting to our knowledge at the regular venue. Flicker folks please left click for better detail.
Old Gold (Great Grey Owl)
Here is a remake of an older photo from 2019. I know that it's only January and It is supposed to snow again today but I couldn't help but dream of what could be in store for later in the spring and summer. Flickr folks please left click for better detail.
Just Hanging Around (Great Grey Owl)
In this image the female great grey owl appears to be just hanging in the air as she ascends up to deliver another vole to one of her owlets in a near by fir tree. Flickr folks please left click for enhanced details.
Fir Tree and Feathers (Great Grey Owlet)
A great grey owlet perches on a scorched fir tree branch waiting for one of its parents to bring more food. Flickr folks please click twice for the best resolution.
Coming in For a Landing (Great Grey Owl)
Sorry, a rather large crop on this one. A great grey owl prepares to land on a small conifer in its favorite hunting area.
Snack For The Kids (Great Grey Owl)
An image taken in July from the BC Interior. The female owl on her way to drop off another evening snack for the kids.
Moma is Watching 2023 (Great Grey Owl)
The female owl keeps a close eye on the area as all of her owlets are down low to the ground during evening feeding.
The Hand Off (Great Grey Owls)
Here is a quick image just before the male owl hands over a vole to one of the owlets. We saw four owlets that evening spread in a small area throughout the forest.
Thanks Dad! (Great Grey Owls)
In this image the male great grey owl has just finished delivering another vole to one of the owlets. He turns to take one last look towards the camera before flying away.
Vole Delivery Environmental (Great Grey Owl)
The male great grey owl on his way in with another vole delivery. Flickr folks please left click for better detail.
Grass Mustache #2 Wings Up (Great Grey Owl)
Here is another in the "Grass Mustache" series with a wings up position.
Blast Off! (Great Grey Owl)
After catching another vole for her owlets a female great grey owl prepares for the first big wing flap to push herself off of the ground.
Grass Mustache (Great Grey Owl)
Sometimes it's just impossible to catch a vole without a little grass getting in the way. In this particular image the female owl appears to have a grass mustache. Pretty comical. Flickr folks please left click for better detail.
Me and My Mom (Great Grey Owls)
After a brief preening session on a burnt log the female great grey owl and her owlet stop for a quick portrait shot.
After The Burn #2 (Great Grey Owl)
The female takes a rest on a low fir tree that had been burnt in the wildfire two years ago. The background is another much larger fir tree that is dead but still standing after the blaze.
Evening Clean Up (Great Grey Owls)
In the early evening a Moma great grey owl preens one of her owlets on an old burnt log in the meadow.
Special Delivery (Great Grey Owl)
Dad bringing home another vole for one of his five hungry owlets. Flickr folks left click for maximum detail.
After The Burn (Great Grey Owl)
In this image a great grey owl rests on an old dead tree that had been scorched during a wildfire in his hunting area only two years ago.
Skimming The Grass (Great Grey Owl)
In a farmer's field in Southern Alberta a great grey owl skims the grass as it hunts the fence line.
Sidewinder (Great Grey Owl)
Found another image of the great grey owl in flight. A nice example of a reversed "C" wing position. Pretty good eye contact as well. Flickr folks please click twice for best detail.
Tree Topper (Great Grey Owl)
The male great grey owl takes a moment to rest in the shade on a small conifer in the middle of the meadow.
Full Wing Span (Great Grey Owl)
Here is another one a bit further along in the same sequence of photos showing the impressive wing span of the great grey owl.
Fence Sitter (Great Grey Owl)
This is the way we would typically find the great grey owls in Southern Alberta. Usually at the edge of a large field on a fence post hunting for voles. Sometimes they would fly into the field away from us but usually we had to back up as they would re-position themselves coming towards us as they worked the fence line.
Great Grey Owl Giving Me The Eye
It was a constant battle with harsh light last week. Hoping this great grey owl image is OK. I really like the wing position and the eye contact. Taken near Cochrane in Southern Alberta.
I was told by someone who used to live near Cochrane that this particular owl's name is "Lucky" and has been a regular around this area for a few years now.
Great Grey Owl Wings Down
One of the few flight shots that were available at the venue yesterday. Missed out on all of the good vole delivery shots by about one day. Typical for my track record. It was about a six hour drive from where we were in Alberta so it took us some time to get there.
Perch Shot (Great Grey Owl)
Here is one from yesterday shot in Southern BC. This owl is actually clutching a vole in its talons as is evidenced by the grass sticking out from its feet. Please left click for a larger image.
Full Extension (Great Grey Owl)
Had quite a bit of fun photographing great grey owls in Southern Alberta this week. Light was not the best even early in the morning but we did what we could to make good images.
Resting in The Shadows (Great Grey Owlet)
Stumbled across this one this morning. This was taken just before all of the wildfires started. Don't know why I never posted it. Love the soft light and the catchlight in the bird's eyes.
Over The Shoulder (Great Grey Owl)
Found this one today while digging through the archives.
Wingman 2021 (Great Grey Owlet)
51354315712_35c96f70c5_k
More Fun With Owlets (Great Grey Owlets)
You could probably get three different portrait shaped photos out of this one but I still think it is kind of neat to get all three of them on one tree.
Attitude Already (Great Grey Owlet)
51328768969_5b456b318d_k
Branching Out (Great Grey Owlets)
51324725481_4cc3d9fb4a_k
Moma is Watching (2021) (Great Grey Owl)
Here is a picture of the female great grey. Not much in the way of hunting in the usual places while we were there so unfortunately we didn't get any flight shots. Only saw one male and one female adult this time and they took off a few seconds after we found them. I guess timing is everything.
The Three Caballeros (Great Grey Owlets)
An image from our second trip to the BC interior.
Thanks for the great comments everyone! There were four owlets but one was too bashful to join the other three. Could be he/she was visiting from another brood near by. They don't seem to mind sharing their territory and there are several broods within a short distance from one another. They seem to act as a community at times rather than individual family groups.
Tower of Power (Great Grey Owlet)
One of three owlets from last year. This photo taken at the end of May. Saw the same group on the second visit in the middle of July after they were fully fledged.
Great Grey Owl With Prey
Miss not being able to go to the interior of B.C. this summer. Here is one of the many images taken from 2019.
Watching From a Low Perch (Great Grey Owl)
A female great grey owl pauses on a branch at eye level before continuing on with her hunt.
Great Grey Glide (Great Grey Owl)
Another image of the great grey owl on its way past me as I stand in a mountain meadow. Love the feather patterns on these guys.
Great Grey Owlet
Caught a bit later in the season this great grey owlet still has a lot of its down and juvi feathers but is fully fledged and quite capable of flight.
Burnt Out (Great Grey Owl)
Stopping to rest momentarily, the female great grey owl hunts from an old burnt out stump.
Looking Back (Great Grey Owl)
No one else was taking photos when I took this image. Couldn't figure it out at the time. Great subject isolation, nice background, and diagonal composition. Who could ask for more?
Another Successful Hunt (Great Grey Owl)
Here an adult great grey flies with a fresh catch on her way back to feed the hungry owlets.
Extremely Talon-ted (Great Grey Owl)
Did some creative cropping on this one. Hope you like it.
Hunting Low Down (Great Grey Owl)
A female great grey owl keeps watch for prey from the edge of a meadow on a low tree branch.
Up and Away (Great Grey Owl)
I really like the feather patterns in this image.
Pausing For a Breather (Great Grey Owl)
Here is one that I posted earlier on Facebook but never got around to posting here. The female great grey owl takes a well deserved rest perched on a stump after spending most of her morning feeding her hungry owlets.
Pancake Shot (Great Grey Owl)
Often referred to as a "pancake shot" when the wings are neither all the way up nor all the way down. One of many flight images taken this summer.
Trying To Blend In (Great Grey Owl)
Early in the morning a great grey owl hunts from a tiny dead branch sticking out of a large fir tree. Another experiment in low light and high ISO. If not for a noisy robin I would never have seen him.
Totally Stumped (Great Grey Owl)
Here is another image from our whirlwind tour in BC owling country.
Momma Is Watching (Great Grey Owl)
In this image the female great grey watches us from a near by tree branch. We had just come back from an extensive search on a logging road and found nothing but chipmunks and a few scruffy tanagers. This shot was taken at the end of our hike about a hundred feet from our car. My brother in-law saw her first and said "Steve! Momma is watching". It was early in the morning and at first I didn't know what he meant. He pointed to our right and there she was on an open branch about 20 feet away and around 25 feet off of the ground. They blend in really good and can often hide right in plain sight.
Hiding In Plain Sight (Great Grey Owl)
Easy to see how you could walk right past one of these guys and never even see them. In this image the owl hunts the meadow from about 20 feet up in a fir tree.
Gnarly Perch 2019 (Great Grey Owl)
Another dandy from the whirlwind trip to owling country.
Big WIngspan (Great Grey Owl)
Posted this one on Facebook a while back and forgot to put it up here. Another in the same sequence as "Bat Bird". He does have a tail tucked back there somewhere. Left click twice for greatest detail.
Wings Down (Great Grey Owl)
One of the adult birds flies towards the camera from the other side of the meadow. No vole this time unfortunately.
Concentration (Great Grey Owl)
A great grey owl is poised on a fir branch momentarily before dropping down into the meadow to snatch up an unsuspecting vole.
Another Successful Hunt (Great Grey Owl)
In this image the owl has caught a Townsend's vole which is their natural prey along with pocket gophers, chipmunks, and other rodents.
Great Grey Owlet
Fully fledged and quite capable of escaping any danger by just flying away. This guy came down to give us a closer look for a while before returning to his siblings in a near by snag.
Tree Topper (Great Grey Owl)
A great grey owl scans the meadow for voles from a 20 foot conifer.
Special Delivery (Great Grey Owl)
On her way to drop off a big fat vole for the young ones.
Bat Bird! (Great Grey Owl)
I was lucky to get this in the frame. The great grey owl jumps down after a vole which was about 6 feet in front of me. Couldn't figure out why he was staring at me 🙂
Folks on Flickr should left click twice for best detail.
Moving With Flare (Great Grey Owl)
A great grey owl flares before repositioning to a new branch. Best viewed at highest resolution.
Great Grey in Flight (Great Greay Owl)
I'm Not too sure if this is the female or the male. Sorry, next time I will try to get a bit closer. 🙂
Where Are You? (Great Grey Owl)
One of many from a great trip to the interior. Here the male great grey gazes over into a meadow to check on his mate who is hunting near by.
Dove Position (Great Grey Owlet)
My Birthday special. Another one from our trip to the interior last month.
Real Good Camo (Great Grey Owlet)
Had to have this guy pointed out to me before I knew he was there. The owlets were branching and not quite fully fledged. He had to use a sapling to climb the bigger tree and get to that branch which was about 30 feet off of the ground.
Shields Up! (Great Grey Owlet)
Caught at an interesting point during a wing stretch.
Great Grey Owlet
This image taken somewhere in the interior of B.C.
Landscape Version (Great Grey Owl)
Been pretty dead for me this winter as regards local raptors. Not much of that kind of action over here on the island. Will hopefully be able to try another trip to the interior this spring. Who knows maybe I can run into another one of these guys.
Maybe Next Year? (Great Grey Owl)
Made at least 4 trips from our motel in Kamloops to where we had seen these guys last year but had no luck finding any. Still coming up with the odd good shot out of the hard drive from last year though. In this image the owl was hunting down low for voles in an open meadow.
Owl In The Grass (Great Grey Owl)
Another one from the archives.
Found Another One (Great Grey Owl)
I Keep finding more good images of the great greys from last year. Guess they were never posted because of their similarity to others that are already online. Hope you don't mind. Just love these guys.
Dreaming Of Summer (Great Grey Owl)
Can't wait to get into the interior to have another crack at these guys. This image never posted from my last year's trip to Kamloops.
Narly Perch (Great Grey Owl)
You can see how these guys are perfectly adapted for their environment and blend right in. Very hard to see this guy from a distance as he tends to look very similar to the background in color and texture.
Successful Hunt (Great Grey Owl)
A great grey owl returns to feed its owlets after a successful hunt in the meadow.
Out in The Open (Great Grey Owl)
Here is another roosting shot from the Kamloops trip. Hope you like it.
Glide - Environmental (Great Grey Owl)
A large great grey owl glides towards me in a meadow in the forest near Kamloops. I am photographing from down the hill so he/she is pretty much at eye level.
Giving Me The Eye (Great Grey Owl)
Found this image while processing some of my photos from Kamloops. Hope you like it. Here the Great Grey Owl was keeping an eye on me from a small branch on the side of an old fir tree.
Coming in For a Landing (Great Grey Owl)
He is preparing to land on a boulder in the grass just up the hill from where I am standing.
Flight Portrait at Minimum Focus (Great Grey Owl)
Sorry about this one. Gets hard to track when they fly that close.
Great Grey Owl
The light was much better for shooting today near Kamloops. Had the extreme pleasure of photographing a mated pair of great grey owls as they hunted in a meadow. They were unconcerned and carried on as if we weren't even there.
Wing Man
Stretching out before going on the hunt.
Photomerge Fun!
In this image I had to use "photomerge" in Photoshop to get the whole bird in. It's pretty tight in the frame but lots of detail. Best viewed at full size of course. By the way, you won't see the largest image by just left clicking so you might want to try the download menu to view the largest photo.
Portrait Shot
The Great Grey Owl stares out at the crowd of paparazzi.
Nice To Meet You
Here is a Great Grey Owl after several years of trying to photograph one of these guys. I Made the trip over to the lower mainland this past Saturday and was lucky enough to get a few shots. Will post a couple more soon. (Cropped version for my monitor)
