Joe: You can save a fortune in telephoto lenses with that technique.
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It's Owl Season..... Again
- Thread starter Bill Anderson
- Start date
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Joe: You can save a fortune in telephoto lenses with that technique.
I have been hearing them do their "location" hoots between 2:30-3:30pm. Yesterday my son and I arrived after 4:00pm and struck out completely. A lady walking her dog said she had heard them before we arrived, so they seem to be keeping a strict schedule.
I am still kicking myself for missing two flight shots.
Terry is thinking of charging for this unique service.
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Joe: You can save a fortune in telephoto lenses with that technique.
fiznatty
Member
Bill, I did finally make it to Yost yesterday (after striking out on great horned at Nisqually). No luck. I did the entire main loop while exploring many of the off-shoot trails as well. No owls spotted or heard (the latter doesn't surprise me, as they were likely napping). It was my first time there, so I didn't really have a sense of where to look for them, but it was nice to explore the entire park.
Max
Max
Bill, I did finally make it to Yost yesterday (after striking out on great horned at Nisqually). No luck. I did the entire main loop while exploring many of the off-shoot trails as well. No owls spotted or heard (the latter doesn't surprise me, as they were likely napping). It was my first time there, so I didn't really have a sense of where to look for them, but it was nice to explore the entire park.
Max
I have been hearing them do their "location" hoots between 2:30-3:30pm. Yesterday my son and I arrived after 4:00pm and struck out completely. A lady walking her dog said she had heard them before we arrived, so they seem to be keeping a strict schedule.
I want to literally catch one like Joe did.
photographmemories
New Member
How come you were holding the owl in the picture Joe?
I've never held a barred owl before but I have spent plenty of time around them. They will land within a few feet from people and hunt looking the other direction for prey not really caring that there is a person standing there. The Barred's mentality makes me think of domesticated cats as they really aren't bothered by people unless people are overstepping their boundaries and harassing them. Of course I'm not implying you're harassing the owl. I know you have a good purpose for holding it as you work with various bird organizations. How did the owl react with you holding it?
Chad
I've never held a barred owl before but I have spent plenty of time around them. They will land within a few feet from people and hunt looking the other direction for prey not really caring that there is a person standing there. The Barred's mentality makes me think of domesticated cats as they really aren't bothered by people unless people are overstepping their boundaries and harassing them. Of course I'm not implying you're harassing the owl. I know you have a good purpose for holding it as you work with various bird organizations. How did the owl react with you holding it?
Chad
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Joemeche
New Member
I field a lot of calls for birds in distress. This particular owl had apparently crashed into a window sometime in the night and the homeowner found it on her sidewalk when she went out to get the morning paper. She called me and I collected it and took it to the local rehab center.
I released it 3 days later.
First, I boxed it.
And then I handed it over to my friend for rehab.
I released it 3 days later.
First, I boxed it.
And then I handed it over to my friend for rehab.
Good series, Joe. A friend of mine who has been taking videos of owls extensively over the past several years got attacked by a barred owl of two occasions. In both cases he believed it was a first year bird who had not yet learned the etiquette of sharing the woods.
My own experience with barred owls is that they will just sit and watch as long as they are perched higher than us. I have seen people (including myself) walk under them without even knowing they were there. Last year my son and I flushed one of the Yost Park pair which was on the ground. It flew to a nearby tree branch which was higher than us and sat there and watched us. They are far more concerned about getting hassled by crows and robins than by us.
I have heard stories of the Yost Park pair strafing people in the park and going after hats when their owlets are nearby on the ground. I assume that if the pair has owlets, all bets are off as far as their tolerance of humans and dogs.
My own experience with barred owls is that they will just sit and watch as long as they are perched higher than us. I have seen people (including myself) walk under them without even knowing they were there. Last year my son and I flushed one of the Yost Park pair which was on the ground. It flew to a nearby tree branch which was higher than us and sat there and watched us. They are far more concerned about getting hassled by crows and robins than by us.
I have heard stories of the Yost Park pair strafing people in the park and going after hats when their owlets are nearby on the ground. I assume that if the pair has owlets, all bets are off as far as their tolerance of humans and dogs.
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Joemeche
New Member
Oh the stories I could tell (some with photos) of the Barred Owl encounters here in Bellingham. Whatcom Falls Park has been the center of activity over the past few years with as many as four (4) nesting pairs and their owlets.
I've observed them taking a variety of prey, from trout and crayfish to robins and baby ducks. They're pretty adaptable and highly entertaining.
I've observed them taking a variety of prey, from trout and crayfish to robins and baby ducks. They're pretty adaptable and highly entertaining.
Joemeche
New Member
Fragmentation of the Spotted Owls' habitat has helped, as well.
Terry O
Well-Known Member
photographmemories
New Member
That's a neat pic of the Barred with the fish. The Barreds here will scan the creek but there's no fish in it so, I have yet to take a photo of a barred with fish.
Chad
Chad
photographmemories
New Member
I posted a couple of Northern Pygmy owl photos in the week 12 Photo a Week Challenge. Here's a few more from Saturday in SW Portland.
Chad
Chad
Sunday (3/30) Terry, our friend Dan, and I went to Yost Park for a late afternoon/early evening owl hunt. Once again the owls showed up after Terry left.
All of these shots were taken with my 5DIII + 100-400L telephoto zoom. I always remove the 1.4x TC in Yost Park because I don't need the extra reach, but I do need the extra f stops.
Dan spotted the male up in a tree.
1/125, f/5.6, ISO = 5000.
Then he found the female up hill of us sitting on a short stump about four feet off the ground. Comparing the size of the two owls, the female appears to have a longer body.
Remaining shots: 1/250, f/5.6, ISO = 25600.
The owls are very skittish when they are that low and she took off after seeing me. All I could get was the proverbial butt shot.
She flew high up into a nearby tree and began hooting, which attracted the male and some crows. The male took off from his branch and headed directly towards me. I did not get off a shot as I watched in awe as it flew past within 10-12 feet. Both owls hooted, flew from tree to tree, and perched together, but nowhere that I could get a good shot.
The last shot I got was the male perched in a tree.
All of these shots were taken with my 5DIII + 100-400L telephoto zoom. I always remove the 1.4x TC in Yost Park because I don't need the extra reach, but I do need the extra f stops.
Dan spotted the male up in a tree.
1/125, f/5.6, ISO = 5000.
Then he found the female up hill of us sitting on a short stump about four feet off the ground. Comparing the size of the two owls, the female appears to have a longer body.
Remaining shots: 1/250, f/5.6, ISO = 25600.
The owls are very skittish when they are that low and she took off after seeing me. All I could get was the proverbial butt shot.
She flew high up into a nearby tree and began hooting, which attracted the male and some crows. The male took off from his branch and headed directly towards me. I did not get off a shot as I watched in awe as it flew past within 10-12 feet. Both owls hooted, flew from tree to tree, and perched together, but nowhere that I could get a good shot.
The last shot I got was the male perched in a tree.
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Bravo, Bill and Dan!! I knew things would liven up after I left!
I am still kicking myself for missing two flight shots.
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Bravo, Bill and Dan!! I knew things would liven up after I left!
Terry is thinking of charging for this unique service.
photographmemories
New Member
Keep them coming Bill, Terry, Joe, Fiz and Janice!
I was going through some folders the other day from last year and came up with some memorable scenes from SW Portland
I was going through some folders the other day from last year and came up with some memorable scenes from SW Portland
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