Having found 'Torn Eye' residing back in the old Willow tree, it meant during my walks for the first week was just to observe and see if she/he followed some of the old routes and locations from a previous year and yes, all seemed to fall into a very similar pattern. The second week was just to try and get close to both Willow tree and old wooden trailer, favourite spots based on the white droppings that clearly marked the owls presence. Keeping flexible and using the bag hide I thought it might have offered more chance in changing location (prior to the blind going up) in that second week, as we both got used to each other and I could observe more, however first day not a hope!!!
Thinking I covered a wide angle area from my position (not too close) and shooting mirrorless, only Torn Eye would pitch up, meters away from me on a crappy bit of wood. No chance of changing techs ie DoF and so I only got a few frames before the Pheasants spoke her/him as they sparred with one another. The following day the set up was different under the bag hide with both the 500 & 1.4 plus the 200-400 mounted to cover most eventualities and it worked. The green backdrop is an old Hawthorn hedge that divides the fields.
Thanks to those who viewed or commented on the previous posting.
Steve
Subject: Little owl (Athene noctua)
Location: UK
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X Mark III
Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS II USM (Gitzo tripod & Flexline Pro Ball head)
Exposure: 1/1600s at f/5.6 ISO2500 +0.33EV
Original format: Portrait, very slight crop from above, FF width
Processed via: LRCC Classic & PSCC2020
Time: 6.50am
Note: The subject is fully wild and completely unconstrained. Besides the potential impact of my presence, nothing has been done to intentionally alter or affect the ongoing behavior of the subject and, of course, there has been no use of any form of bait or other form of wildlife attractants (including vocalisations) in the capture of this image.








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