Theme: Snowy Owl Taking Off.

[Karl Egressy]

This is an older picture but still one of my all time favorites among Snowy pictures.
I just like the pose and the smiley face. I cloned out some small branches.
The left eye looks bad, but very natural.
I was playing with copying over the right good looking eye but it looked phony to me, so I leave you with one good eye only.
I did see them in the last two years but never had a chance for shooting since 2009. Maybe this year.


Canon EOS 40D
Shooting Date/Time 2/5/2009 4:24:36 PM
Tv 1/1000
Av 7.1
ISO 200
EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x

[Arthur Morris]

What a magnificent bird. One great wing, one great eye :). Have to ask: baited?

[Karl Egressy]

What a magnificent bird. One great wing, one great eye :). Have to ask: baited?

Thanks Artie.
I never bait of feed raptors or Owls.
I'm not against it not in favor it, I just don't do it.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Karl. Super. That makes this one even more special. Now, at the risk of being a real PITA I must ask, was someone in the area feeding the owl?

[Karl Egressy]

I have the suspicion that it might have been.
Based on the behavior of at least one female Owl in the area, (and this owl could have been the same) I had the impression that she might have been baited at times.
Why I think she could have been baited?
It flew out and landed on the snow covered gravel road one time when we stopped with the car.
She then allowed us to get very close after we got out and slowly walked towards her.
I should post a picture of her some other time.
She is in my book with a nice story.

[Arthur Morris]

I have the suspicion that it might have been.
Based on the behavior of at least one female Owl in the area, (and this owl could have been the same) I had the impression that she might have been baited at times.
Why I think she could have been baited?
It flew out and landed on the snow covered gravel road one time when we stopped with the car.
She then allowed us to get very close after we got out and slowly walked towards her.
I should post a picture of her some other time.
She is in my book with a nice story.

Thanks Karl. Sounds like several pairs of cranes down by the lake where I live. Only not as majestic. I just like to try to figure out (or learn about) different situations.

[Tom Redd]

Karl. excellent pose of a incredible bird. TFS

[dankearl]

Very nice Karl, looks like a toy stuffed animal.
A very fortunate sighting and photo opportunity.

[Bill Dix]

Beautiful bird. Reminds me of "The Big Year". Love Artie's comment: one great wing, one great eye. And one great opportunity.

[Marina Scarr]

Gorgeous bird, and I think your crop works well. It's nice to hear the story behind the photo. TFS

[Brendon Cremer]

lovely image, very well captured

[Don Leslie]

Fantastic shot Karl, really like the eye contact!

[Jim Crosswell]

Nice image Karl! I would love to see a Snowy one day.