Northern Hawk Owl and chicks

I was very pleased to find and photograph this owl in Churchill - it is one I have always missed in Scandinavia. I watched the bird hunting, and was able to get an idea where the nest might be when I saw it carrying a lemming into the wood. An hour of cold searching finally revealed this perfect site, approx 6 feet from ground level. Both birds were in the area but never made any alarm or aggression calls. I merged a net hide into a nearby pine and, while I was actually doing it, one bird flew to the nest and fed the chicks (3). Lighting was difficult with the sun filtering through the trees, 6.30 - 8pm giving best angle and quality. They seemed to start feeding the chicks from 6am - 9am then re-commenced from 6pm. I spent about nine hours in total in the hide, during the periods of good light, in order to get this 'eye contact' shot - taken on my last evening in Churchill! Most squeaks and rustling noises were totally ignored, and feeding session were usually a frenzy of activity. On the last day I noticed a bear had left a very large and obvious 'calling card' within 30 feet of where the hide was situated. Unfortunately, or probably fortunately, I never actually saw the bear!!

Camera Canon 1D Mk111 500mm f4 IS Exp 1/125 @ f11 ISO 800
Camera on tripod in hide.

Great find, light and eye contacts. The image looks a bit oversharpened on my monitor and I would give it a bit more room at the left to have the entire trunk in the frame.

Congratulations, Melvin. THe image and the accompanying story are wonderful...how exciting. Not sure if it's the oversharpening that Axel refers to, but the post processing looks heavy handed. Definately an image worth some more work!! Thanks so much for the look at this.

A marvelous find and a really cool shot. Congrats on all levels of biology and photograhy. Can you tell me approximately what the date was. I would love to try and find a nest next year up there.

Excellent find Melvin. Everything mentioned but I see the image suffering for the lack of resolution.

Thanks for the comments - I had some difficulty resizing this for posting and had to re-do it several times. I have started again fron scratch. How does this look now, the original certainly makes a great A3 print!
Rob - date was 12 06 08, information on 'File info' when image viewed in Pshop, along with my address, if I can help further please e-mail me.

Very good work, I am commenting the photo and your story about what was behind - the post-editing the others has commented. I am jealous, it would be very nice to work with such a nice nest. Many congratulations!!!

Your persistence and hard work paid off handsomely with this wonderful opportunity. The nest is so photogenic, as are the beautiful subjects. Wonderful capture here with the direct look of the adult and both babies visible. Although your original post was oversharpened, I feel that the repost needs a little more sharpening.

I prefer your first rendition...

The story was a wonderful addition to what is, to me, a great image!

I really like and that's why I gave it a try in PS, not very good though! Anyways this is my version, I am sure that if you have the original RAW you can make this a better image.

I think is is a fantastic image, the first edit has too much contrast added, and the second needs a little more contrast, and a touch of sharpening., great find, and nice work., I am sure you will have a lot of fun working with your images in the future.

I just added a bit of sharpening to your second post.

Raymond's edit of your second post makes this perfect. Love the blood on the parent's face!

Just stunnng!!!!

Hi Melvin,
I think Raymonds edit is right on. You did verywell with the capture. I do feel I want the entire log tip.......but it doesn't detract that much from a very nice image.