Northern Hawk Owl

Gallery: AvianPosted December 12, 2010332 views31 comments

A very exciting rarity on the Lower Mainland of Vancouver - they tell me it's the first time in 30 years that one of these has been seen here. We did have one over on Vancouver Island 2 years ago, and that one attracted a lot of attention - so has this! It has been very successful hunting Voles.

It's a pity that we get so much rain and grey skies here at this time of year!

1D MkIV, 700mm, 1/100 @f7.1, ISO800, tripod, afternoon heavy overcast sky, almost full-frame.

Thanks for looking; comments please.

Comments

31 comments

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on December 12, 2010 at 10:16 PM

What a great opportunity KC and you captured it well. I really like those eyes and what a great bonus catching it with the prey.

Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on December 12, 2010 at 10:20 PM

Sweet shot Kwan. Great eye contact and the inclusion of its meal is a definite bonus

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on December 12, 2010 at 10:27 PM

Very nice capture. Great look from the owl and of course the meal makes this even better. Big Congrats on this one

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Joe Sulik on December 12, 2010 at 10:38 PM

Holy cow! I think you may have an award winner here! Excellent shot!! The vole in it's talons really makes it.

Registered on January 7, 2009, 51 Posts, 165 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Twaddell on December 12, 2010 at 10:38 PM

Those yellow eyes sure do pop! Nice one!

Registered on August 16, 2007, 199 Posts, 2132 Comments

Comment posted by Bryan Hix on December 12, 2010 at 11:18 PM

Great stuff, love the stare and the prey is awesome. You totally caught him in the act. The OOF ULC branch is a bit distracting, but completely minor. Congrats on the rarity!

Registered on June 13, 2008, 117 Posts, 755 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on December 12, 2010 at 11:20 PM

KC, an excellent catch!
Great angle on the bird and prey, even showing the vole's eyes.

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Balan Vinod on December 13, 2010 at 1:16 AM

Nice image here KC Choo ...love the stare and the catch is the icing .. well done here. I was wondering if this would work well as a vertical crop ..

Balan Vinod

Registered on March 20, 2006, 889 Posts, 2312 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on December 13, 2010 at 1:46 AM

Not the sort of habitat I am used to seeing in photos of this species, speaks to the rarity of the find. Love the stack of voles, what an added bonus! Lovely detail on the owl and a good clean view, how lucky is that!

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on December 13, 2010 at 2:36 AM

Well done getting such a fine image of a rarity, with bonus vole and lovely setting.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by dan elster on December 13, 2010 at 9:24 AM

Wow, you must have been thrilled! Great everything KC!

Registered on September 23, 2005, 299 Posts, 2443 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on December 13, 2010 at 9:50 AM

Very well done! Really like the eyes! Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on December 13, 2010 at 10:00 AM

I like this a lot. Great image of a neat owl. I love the eyes and the stare. The only thing that would make this image better is if the two out of focus branches at the top and top right were not there. But this is nature and the subjects are not very cooperative about letting us pose them.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by David Sewell on December 13, 2010 at 10:17 AM

I think the overcast sky has helped you, as there is plenty of feather detail that might otherwise have been lost. The vole is a great bonus. Congratulations on a superb shot.

David

Registered on September 10, 2008, 63 Posts, 801 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 13, 2010 at 10:29 AM

Oh sweet shot KC. Love the drab light and the way the yellow eyes stand out because of it. Prey is always good. Larger version,please! I want to see the details in that vole.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on December 13, 2010 at 10:46 AM

Cool! Big congrats on such a great capture of a rarity in your area. Really cool with the vole, especially how he appears to be peering out from under the owl.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on December 13, 2010 at 12:18 PM

Excellent work, especially since the weather wasn't the best..
The prey is a nice bonus too.
So hat's off to you on this rare find!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Darren Colello on December 13, 2010 at 12:18 PM

Wow, stellar shot KC of a truly spectacular species. Congrats and thanks for sharing this wonderful image.

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on December 13, 2010 at 12:41 PM

Very interesting, I like everything about this, what a look the owl is giving and the voles adds the finishing touch, well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on December 13, 2010 at 1:01 PM

Awesome capture, KC.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by wade pettitt on December 13, 2010 at 5:49 PM

You just gotta love those eyes, well done kc

Registered on May 6, 2009, 184 Posts, 471 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on December 13, 2010 at 7:40 PM

I can't stop looking at those eyes! Well Done!

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on December 13, 2010 at 7:48 PM

Very sweet Kwan, the vole puts this one up a notch

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 13, 2010 at 7:56 PM

I'd kill for this Kwan. Watch your back...

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on December 14, 2010 at 12:24 AM

Just super, Kwan. Send him down here, will ya'?

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by mark cillo on December 14, 2010 at 11:21 AM

This is stunning! Not much room for improvement here. The inclusion of the of prey and the eyes really make this shot.

Registered on July 27, 2008, 143 Posts, 1483 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on December 14, 2010 at 12:27 PM

Congratulations on such a great image of this rarity KC.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on December 14, 2010 at 1:19 PM

A lovely image, love those eyes

Well done.

Geoff.

Registered on August 20, 2010, 192 Posts, 980 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on December 14, 2010 at 5:55 PM

Great Bird, Sweet Capture Kwan!!!

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on December 15, 2010 at 3:37 AM

It's the rain and gray skies that helped make this image a winner, KC! Nice "smooth" light. What a magnificent owl! Might wish for fewer blurry branches but well understand the dilemma in the field; purely wishful thinking on my part. Killer shot! Hope you get to see more of this owl.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Lindy Martin on December 19, 2010 at 10:16 PM

This is a great shot. Just think how lucky you are not to be sitting at minus 20 to get it! Grey weather beats freezing fingers in my turf anytime. Love the vole and the eye contact. Well done

Registered on March 10, 2009, 60 Posts, 169 Comments