Beautiful bird and I'm enjoying the overall setting. Those eyes are very engaging. Square comp work quite well for me here. Shows a blue cast on my monitor.
I would likely have pushed the ISO for a bit more SS, but the slow SS didn't hurt here (is that motion blur on the tail?)
Love those eyes, so mesmerizing!! The owl looks great, but yes to a busy habitat...I realize that this is what you were presented, and I am not sure anyone would not have taken the images despite that. I like the square crop, sharpeness (perhaps I would not sharpen the vegetation though). A version with a warmer WB is worth a try.
Super square on shot of the face, it really engages the viewer. The busy background takes a bit of attention away from the bird, on the other hand it really shows what he was working his way through when you came along. Agree that a bit warmer WB might work well.
The eyes just pull you in and I am loving the ear tufts.
Yes, the BG is busy but I find myself ignoring it because the eyes pull me away from it.
I wonder if I see a bit of a magenta cast (easily fixed) and would consider warming the image up a little bit,
Gail