At Last !

Little Owl
This has been my bogey bird since I went digital, and then out of the blue one turns up 100 yards from one of my pool hides, nesting in an old drying barn.! There's a cavity behind the vent holes and the problem is they have three young ready to leave and they have the choice of about 50 holes to appear from !
This was done last night and I reckon I have one night left.
Taken inside an open fronted lean too at 7:30 last night from a hide on an old table. I got some great stuff of the parents with food but haven't had time to sort them yet.
Some of the light is coming through plastic roof sheets which are covered in years of red sandstone grime.
D200 Sigma 100-300
640 ISO
50th second @f5
JohnR

This is a stunning shot John those eyes stare straight through you and supersharp, extremely well done.

Lovely shot with enough background detail to put the subject in its place.
You must have been nice and close to get a full frame shot like this at 300mm.
Curious about the eye colours - is it a trick of the light or are they naturally two different shades?
Very jealous - I've got a few locations for these but none offer photographic opertunities.


Simon

Very nice John-The bogey has been broken and now you will have them coming out of your ears Theres a little noise in the background but easy to remove, Cracking little birds-look forward to more

Dave

Thanks both
Well done Simon !
Every single image in the 120 pics from last night is the same ! The light is coming from the fully open front to the right. The pupil looks a bit smaller too.
Heres a small one to show it.
Cheers
JohnR

Dave too -thanks.
Yes I forgot the Neat Image !!
Cheers
JR

Thats a superb find John and an excellent piece of work to get close enough to us a 300mm, nit covered re the noise. Very envious indeed.

Andy...

John I can see another POTW on birdguides if you stick either picture up. I've been checking and I think there's a possibility you could be my real dad, could I come and live with you please. I'm house trained.

Brilliant,love them both,classic Little Owl stare

Some people get all the luck John! Not naming a couple of folk in the rain one day, not so long ago biggrin:

A super pair of images indeed!! Green with envy here...

Fran

John you lucky devil great shots look forward to seeing more, they are a bogey for me to I have been trying to get a good shot of one for ages, i know where he is but he will never come out enough for me

Love both images John. The eye contact is terrific. Unfortunately I have only ever seen them in captivity.

Don't suppose theres any chance when I eventually sell up here that you would let me pitch a tent in your surroundings

Cracking shots, John, I'm envious!

Superb images

Shaun

Superb effort John. Looking at the number of folks coming to live with you or camp in your garden, you could make a good profit here!!!

Beautiful shot John

Better get a camp site sorted asap