A First for me ....Happy!

Ok i know its not criticaly sharp ... but... with my track record of flight shots added to getting all fingers and thumbs with nerves and excitment when this fella drifted in front of me surely i can be excused a little bit!!!! From a local farm which the farmer has let me have access to, thanks to Robam for some tips as well

Nikon D2xs
Sigma 500mm
Tripod/393 head
Nervous Photographer
1/500th @ F6.3
ISO 400
USM (a bit!) Slight Crop
Oh i dont care anymore, ive got a Barn Owl on file!!!!!!!

Andy

Well done Andy, you should be happy with this one............superb

Lovely shot, love the nervous photographer line

Tony

I know how you feel, I got my first shots a week or two ago - brilliant aren't they. Very nice shot indeed Andy.

Tim

The effort was well and truly worth it matey - I'm well pleased for you

Well done Andy - that's a great one; I like the light coming through the wings.



Mark

Hi Andy,

Like the spiel! This is a cracking shot!

Hi Andy,

Very nice shot of what looks to be a male (female would have spots around her throat and underwing and he looks light, female's have darker plumage). I know how you feel with these birds, they are just magical and I feel if I get anything on file it's a bonus, I just love watching them. Keep an eye on what he does and where he goes, he should be pairing up around about now and he and his mate will be looking for suitable nesting sites(this may be different from a roosting site), If you see them preening each other or "head bowing" that is all early stages of courtship and bonding.
If you feel that they have nowhere suitable to nest ie old farm buildings or hollow tree, but you have lots of nice habitat ie rough tussocky grassland or marshy land, then let me know and I can send you box plans to go either on a tree or on a pole or in a building.
I hope he or them give you a fantastic summer

Regards

Rob

Thanks Rob, the land owner emailed me after i left to tell me there was two around after i went, i photographed one the other week and it looked alot darker .... photos werent that great so didnt post.... have watched him/her only twice but they follow the same routine over one piece of scrubland and then drift off for a while before returning...thanks rob, have made it my summers project.

Great shot Andy the birds in my area only come out in the dark
John
Aberdeen

Weel done and congratulations. You should be very happy with this. Great shot.

Edwin Kats

You should be well chuffed with this one,, well done.

Congratulations, that's a fine shot. I know I would be really pleased with that. Round here they only seem to come out in the dark as well. But there are noticeably more of them about, so chances should increase.
Eric

It was certainly worth the effort. Great shot

And so you should be pleased.... went searching the other weekend no luck whatsoever... looking forward to seeing more as your project progresses.

Keep the effort up - any project that starts to deliver pleasing stuff like this is worth it. Amongst my favourite subjects too.



Mark

Very nice - I look forward to further results from your project!

Andy

Great shot one of the most interesting subjects enjoy the project.

Barry

Eastbourne

Nice one Andy. Agree with Rob that it's probably a male.

I'm lucky enough to have 4 known breeding sites for Barn Owl within 10km of my house, however they all prefer to come out late and are hardly seen in the daylight this time of year.

It may be worth contacting the Barn Owl Conservation Network or Hawk and Owl Trust to see if they have a local representative. If the farmer agrees to having a box put up they may be willing to come and do it very cheaply.

Good Luck for the summer.

Gavin

Cracking shot Andy you must be well chuffed



Danny