Cruel Choices -Barn Owl

Having returned to my Barn Owl site over the last few days,I was delighted to see the male had survived the recent cold spell and was hunting but at the same time I was quite bemused as it was raining,with the rain falling as sleet,a behaviour I’ve never seen before in Barn Owls due to it’s hazardous nature.The structure of an adult Barn Owl’s feathers make them perfectly adapted for silent flight,but this makes them prone to waterlogging so consequently they are not suited to hunting in wet weather.Hunger must have been the driving force behind this dangerous behaviour hence the title,'Cruel Choices'.You can just make out the sleet at this size,but at Tiff size the sleet is more prominent.
All Comments And Advice Welcome

Nikon D3s
Nikon F4VR600
F5.6,1/200
iso 2000,-0.3ev
Matrix
PP-LR2.6,CS3,Full Frame

Thanks For Looking

Nice image, I really like the soft grasses and falling sleet. I'm not sure about the oof grass/scrub in the foreground as it's a little distracting, but good behaviour shot and a perfect pose from the Barn Owl. Nicely taken.

Hi Craig,

Another cracking Barn Owl image! The oof fence is quite distracting for me though. I see it more when I look at other parts of the photo if that makes sense and my eyes get pulled down to it. Also you've left a bit of the Grey Herons head and beak to the right of the left hand fence post , from the same image on your blog. You must have a very nice portfolio of this chap now, nice work!

Cheers,

Lewis.

Thanks for the comments,Lewis there was no heron there I promise you that,its a wire fence line going from left to right

Owl looks great against the dark background. Would probably crop the bottom third just above the OOF fence.

Hi Craig

Agree with the others re OOF FG but the rest of the image is superb!

David

Super result Craig indeed, would take a trim off the foreground.

Thanks for your comments and here is a cropped one,could'nt crop it anymore as I'd lose the composition,thanks again

Second crop works well for me Craig (although the repost seems to have lost some of the warmth of the original). Another cracking owl shot and an interesting tale to boot.

Great shot, Craig. Much prefer the first one, oof fence is a non-issue for me - it's part of the owls environment and hardly distracting - it gives the viewer a good sense of place.
I've often seen barn owls hunting in wet weather - I think they're hardier than they get credit (I once watched one get houded by rooks until it fell out of the air and landed in a slow running river, I watched it float unmoving for about thirty seconds and then suddenly take off, giving itself a shake, osprey like!).

Simon

Both shots look good to me, very nice I have yet to see one never mind get a shot
Bronia

Both images have their merits, Craig, showing great timing by the photographer.

cracking shot, i have seen similar behaviour from local owls too, recently. Out hunting in the rain and snow, it must have been a very lean time when the ice was on the ground !

Hi craig, great shot and I prefer the second one. Thanks for the info.

I would still crop some more off the bottom, it adds emphasis to those trees in the background and the sleet in front of them. Interesting image, and the commentary brings home the realities of life for many species at this time of year.

David

Both excellent Craig but prefer the first one

Hi Craig
Another superb shot of the Barn Owl. I'm really liking this collection. I do have to agree about the Grey Heron though, there is a tiny bit of black from the eye stripe and the yellow from its bill that youve missed on this image. Easy to sort out though.
TFS
Ian

Hi Craig
Another superb shot of the Barn Owl. I'm really liking this collection. I do have to agree about the Grey Heron though, there is a tiny bit of black from the eye stripe and the yellow from its bill that youve missed on this image. Easy to sort out though.
TFS
Ian

Great shot. Like the second one most because of the OoF FG.
Also nice story.

Fabulous shot Craig and I love the first one.As for the fence being a distraction I had to search for it ...and to my mind if you have to search for a nit - well it just isn't there. I prefer the first because the grasses are beautiful and it seems more of a composition. As for the owl - it is stunning.,

It works for me.

F%£%& Stunning, First one for me Craig, always go with your gut instincts, thats what makes images special and if you listen to others your images will be just like every body elses, the key to wildlife photography is originality. Just come back from Norfolk and I have spent four days doing barn owls myself I have found a site that will produce an image that I will go until I get it, just need the light and the bird

Danny