This is one of the commonest Australian night birds, and is actually called Australian Owlet-nightjar, Aegotheles cristatus. It has been also called Fairy Owl, which I find a most attractive name. They are very difficult to find since they are so small and blend in. When you hear their calls they are usually very close to you and can be nearly impossible to find. I managed to track this specimen down while in the company of a good friend Alex Zografos whom I took out spotlighting at my favorite Sydney location this night about a month ago. We heard the bird and I began searching. I finally found it low in a tree just a touch above head height. It was almost impossible to notice at first even with the powerful spotlight. So I did what I usually would and shoot from afar for insurance then slowly approach without disturbing the bird. I managed to walk to almost within touching distance to create this image at the lens' minimum focus distance of five feet! This is full frame from the camera. Then I slowly made my way back and while still about 60 feet away, the little night bird sat still and had not moved. So I was happy about not disturbing it.
30D, 300/4L IS + 1.4x, manual mode, ISO400, f/25 (for DOF), 1/125th, HH, 430EX @ + 1 2/3, as I said this is full frame. Hope you like it. Funnily there was no red eye in this shot, but some of the others I had it occur. I did darken both pupils a touch with the burn tool.
Great job on avoiding the red eye. I like the detail in the feathers. I think a vertical shot may have been better than a horizontal. Sometimes it is hard to say which is better until you compare a horizontal and vertical side by side.
I am sure that finding this bird was very exiting! Love those big brown eyes and the texture of the feathers. I'm also glad that you did not disturbed it.