Western Screech-Owl

Gallery: AvianPosted March 27, 20071,878 views25 comments

This was taken just before sundown at Organ Pipe National Monument, AZ. The red background is a mountain. Canon EOS-1D Mark II N, 500mm, handheld, 1/160, f5.6, ISO 400.

Comments

25 comments

Comment posted by Gaurav Manglik on March 27, 2007 at 11:59 PM

oh vow ...

Registered on December 2, 2005, 191 Posts, 2126 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 28, 2007 at 1:18 AM

Beautiful image Doug, I might have tried placing the owl a bit higher in the frame to get it out of the center more but a very sweet image as is.

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

Comment posted by Jeroen Stel on March 28, 2007 at 3:51 AM

Great shot and what a camouflage! I might crop this so you just see the Owl and cactus. Also i feel there is a slight red cast to this, but that could have been the late ambient light.
Well done!

Greetings,

Jeroen Stel

Registered on November 10, 2003, 366 Posts, 481 Comments

Comment posted by Jasper Doest on March 28, 2007 at 5:58 AM

What a setting....SOOOO cool!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 371 Posts, 2101 Comments

Comment posted by Krijn Trimbos on March 28, 2007 at 6:32 AM

Absolutely terrific!!

Registered on October 18, 2005, 260 Posts, 2979 Comments

Comment posted by David Williams on March 28, 2007 at 10:27 AM

Love it, Doug.....he sure blends in.

Registered on March 8, 2005, 315 Posts, 2291 Comments

Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on March 28, 2007 at 10:36 AM

This is a real beauty, Doug. The colors are extraordinary and hand held at that. I like the comp as is.

Registered on February 13, 2006, 166 Posts, 1818 Comments

Comment posted by Terry & Kay Steel on March 28, 2007 at 10:51 AM

Hello Doug,
This is wonderful! The composition is very pleasing. This is just a classic situation and you've done a good job!

Registered on May 27, 2006, 112 Posts, 1098 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 28, 2007 at 11:10 AM

Very nice as posted - a unique look to this from the orange background.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Zipp on March 28, 2007 at 11:30 AM

Awsome shot Doug!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 86 Posts, 940 Comments

Comment posted by Kevin Thompson on March 28, 2007 at 11:31 AM

Great shot Doug!

Registered on March 15, 2005, 114 Posts, 2639 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Spiecker on March 28, 2007 at 11:37 AM

Sweet Doug!

I have looked at so many holes in Saguaro Cactus without finding a shot like this.

Just a warning to those birding at Organ Pipe. It is right on the border and there have been many robberies there. The last time I was there, some tourists from Germany had all their equipment stolen at gunpoint and the bandits escaped over the fence to Mexico. Use caution there!

Registered on March 23, 2006, 366 Posts, 4649 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Littlejohn on March 28, 2007 at 12:20 PM

Hi Doug , superb photograph

Simon Littlejohn

Registered on November 3, 2004, 116 Posts, 143 Comments

Comment posted by Neil Losin on March 28, 2007 at 12:37 PM

Hi Doug,

What a cool shot!!! Great light and the orange BG is really striking. Nice work!

Registered on September 16, 2005, 145 Posts, 3524 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Gomez on March 28, 2007 at 1:32 PM

A classic! I love these little owls. Very nice image. He must have been very relaxed with those squinty little eyes.

Registered on March 3, 2007, 206 Posts, 1853 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel Streifel on March 28, 2007 at 2:10 PM

Amazing, Doug. I can't think of any reason why you'd go down there every year.

I think I would have cropped it different, but I like your comp very much.

Registered on October 8, 2006, 77 Posts, 886 Comments

Comment posted by Vinod Chandra on March 28, 2007 at 2:20 PM

Ouch...

Registered on December 21, 2006, 30 Posts, 522 Comments

Comment posted by Brian E. Small on March 28, 2007 at 2:36 PM

Wonderful shot Doug.............one of the very best you've posted!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 147 Posts, 933 Comments

Comment posted by Bob Steele on March 28, 2007 at 6:35 PM

Absolutely spectacular!!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 354 Posts, 13896 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Backlund on March 28, 2007 at 11:54 PM

Thanks everyone, for the comments. We heard lots of western screech-owls while camping at Alamo Canyon. This one was located by its call, it was about 200 yards past a small dry wash from campsite #1. Hans makes a good point that one needs to be careful here. Alamo Canyon seems pretty safe, but other areas of the monument are definitely a bit spooky. Still, it's one of my favorite places to visit. The US Air Force was kind of intimidating though, with low flights of A10 warthogs!

Registered on September 29, 2005, 252 Posts, 3380 Comments

Comment posted by Duane Rosenkranz on March 29, 2007 at 10:11 PM

Beautiful. I wouldn't mind seeing owl higher in the frame, but that's minor.

Registered on October 13, 2004, 280 Posts, 2661 Comments

Comment posted by renae sandberg on April 2, 2007 at 11:15 AM

Unique shot, the cactus alone against that red/orange mt would have been fantastic, but with an OWL, wow, it just shines. Amazing photography. Congrats on the EP

Registered on December 29, 2004, 313 Posts, 2476 Comments

Comment posted by Jay Martin on April 7, 2007 at 9:52 AM

Oh Man this is awesome! Great shot and well deserved EP!

Registered on December 6, 2005, 200 Posts, 2209 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on April 28, 2007 at 9:48 PM

This is a great capture, Doug of both the Saguaro and the owl. I personally don't care for the orange BG and orange cast to the image. I think it detracts from your owl.

Carol

Registered on January 18, 2007, 597 Posts, 8062 Comments

Comment posted by Manos Papadomanola on December 13, 2007 at 2:17 PM

:eek

www.birdphotography.gr

Registered on November 11, 2007, 12 Posts, 268 Comments