I haven't been spending nearly enough time here. I haven't been out with the camera for a while, but I managed to spend half an hour this evening with a pair of barn owls. It was my first real encounter with owls of any sort... and I think I have a new favourite bird!
techs: 40d, 300mm w/ 2x converter, 1/640 @ f5.6 iso 1600. Cropped for composition, with plenty of NR on the background to get it looking respectable.
Thanks for looking...
Billy
Posted by Lee Newman on January 23, 2009 at 3:26 PM
I like how the image shows the birds enviroment & good action too.
Bird looks a touch soft but does not spoil the image. It must have been a great experience for you to have two of them flying around you.
Thanks for the comments! I agree the owl is a bit soft, but the light was terrible and I can never really trust my (slightly dodgy) 2x converter. At iso 1600 I didn't really want to push the sharpening!
I have a couple of questions about barn owls, and my bird books don't really give particularly satisfactory answers... it would be great if you guys could help out!
Is there any way to tell apart the sexes? I want to try and work out whether this is a pair or just two competing owls.
Also, do barn owls prefer to hunt in the evenings or early mornings?
Thanks very much!
Billy
Posted by David Sewell on January 24, 2009 at 8:53 AM
Hi Billy,
According to my bird book, plumage in the male is lighter than that on the female, and the differences are most noticeable in flight, so if you see both together it may be possible to tell them apart. As for hunting, I see more in the evenings than in the early morning, but that tells you more about when I am out and about than anything else!
Discussion
4 repliesI haven't been spending nearly enough time here. I haven't been out with the camera for a while, but I managed to spend half an hour this evening with a pair of barn owls. It was my first real encounter with owls of any sort... and I think I have a new favourite bird!
techs: 40d, 300mm w/ 2x converter, 1/640 @ f5.6 iso 1600. Cropped for composition, with plenty of NR on the background to get it looking respectable.
Thanks for looking...
Billy
Bird looks a touch soft but does not spoil the image. It must have been a great experience for you to have two of them flying around you.
Lee
I have a couple of questions about barn owls, and my bird books don't really give particularly satisfactory answers... it would be great if you guys could help out!
Is there any way to tell apart the sexes? I want to try and work out whether this is a pair or just two competing owls.
Also, do barn owls prefer to hunt in the evenings or early mornings?
Thanks very much!
Billy
According to my bird book, plumage in the male is lighter than that on the female, and the differences are most noticeable in flight, so if you see both together it may be possible to tell them apart. As for hunting, I see more in the evenings than in the early morning, but that tells you more about when I am out and about than anything else!
DAvid