Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Wild Bird Wednesday

Pure happenstance.

I was picking my way through snow covered rocks in my garden.. trying to take down the suet feeder to refill it... when I heard a huge commotion behind me.

Sure enough...I stepped on a rock..slid, turned my ankle a bit, tried to catch myself and in the process..did a complete spin around...just in time to see about 6 magpies chasing something really big.  I jumped up ...had a look and saw a big owl sail into the huge spruce down the block.

Quickly dashed into the house and got my camera. Wrong lens..changed it for the other one... got out there and down the block I went.  There he was ...still sitting in the tree with the stupid magpies squawking and hopping up and down right in front of his face, on the very same branch.

He was about 70 feet up a 100 foot tree..so I couldn't even stand any closer .. the big branches completely hid him if I got too close.  I fired off a couple of shots... but, with automatic focus..it was doing the magpies rather than the owl.  I don't even use the manual focus...must read up on that and get some practice in ...and soon!

And, so...I'm afraid it is not a great shot ... but, I did get him!  My first owl... and, only the second one I have actually seen right here near the house.  We are close to a golf course and they probably hang out over there ....

..... and, then........off he flew with the darn magpies in hot pursuit..poor guy.... can't even enjoy a quiet wintery fly about with them around.

I've decided he is a Great Horned... please correct me if you know for sure and I am wrong....
                                   
Also, click on the photo to see him closer ... it is cropped big time to get him that close already...
'cuz as I mentioned..he was about 70 feet in the air and I was out in the middle of the road as well...

Damned magpie...get outta there!  (sorry Chris ...I know how you love the Majestic Magpie!) ...

      
Linking up to Wild Bird Wednesday where you can see all sorts of great birds .... just click on the spindly legged guy below if you would like to go straight to the page.














13 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Beautiful owl, congrats on your sighting.. And lucky you to have an owl in your yard. Great shot!

Unknown said...

I love the owl, but the magpies are pretty too.

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

Great capture of the owl and the magpie. I have never gotten a photo of either one.
Thanks for stopping by today.

TexWisGirl said...

wow! with all of that, you still managed an AWESOME shot! what a beauty!

Lois said...

I'm glad you were able to get the shot! I like it.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

An owl - lucky you!!! The only time I have seen an owl (it was a snowy) I didn't have my camera. Lucky indeed that the magpies where chatty and alerted you to his/her presence.

Sue (this n that) said...

Oh WOW Vee - what an awesome shot! You gave your all for it too... good on you.
Can imagine your excitement when you got him.
You cropped well, we can see him beautifully. A real gem this one :D)

Shashi Nayagam said...

It is a lovely shot inspite of the limitations you were taking it under. I love owls but I am NOT a fan of the magpies even though they are the brainiest birds I have come across sorry.

Anonymous said...

I am so so so so envious! (but only of the owl, not of the snow!!)

thewovenspoke said...

Great shots, some time I would love to get a shot of an owl.

Lovable Derek said...

You did well to capture this shot. Well done!!!

Have a nice weekend.

Hannah said...

Great distance photo, you must have a steady hand. I would love to photograph an owl, I have heard them in our woods at night but never seen them in the daytime. I love to look at Magpies but don't live around them anymore, so I enjoy seeing yours, they are pretty birds.

Lin said...

Oh WOW! That is a beautiful shot! I love the magpies in there along with that majestic owl. (I hope he isn't hunting magpies!!)