I was picking my way through snow covered rocks in my garden.. trying to take down the suet feeder to refill it... when I heard a huge commotion behind me.
Sure enough...I stepped on a rock..slid, turned my ankle a bit, tried to catch myself and in the process..did a complete spin around...just in time to see about 6 magpies chasing something really big. I jumped up ...had a look and saw a big owl sail into the huge spruce down the block.
Quickly dashed into the house and got my camera. Wrong lens..changed it for the other one... got out there and down the block I went. There he was ...still sitting in the tree with the stupid magpies squawking and hopping up and down right in front of his face, on the very same branch.
He was about 70 feet up a 100 foot tree..so I couldn't even stand any closer .. the big branches completely hid him if I got too close. I fired off a couple of shots... but, with automatic focus..it was doing the magpies rather than the owl. I don't even use the manual focus...must read up on that and get some practice in ...and soon!
And, so...I'm afraid it is not a great shot ... but, I did get him! My first owl... and, only the second one I have actually seen right here near the house. We are close to a golf course and they probably hang out over there ....
..... and, then........off he flew with the darn magpies in hot pursuit..poor guy.... can't even enjoy a quiet wintery fly about with them around.
I've decided he is a Great Horned... please correct me if you know for sure and I am wrong....
Also, click on the photo to see him closer ... it is cropped big time to get him that close already...
'cuz as I mentioned..he was about 70 feet in the air and I was out in the middle of the road as well...
Damned magpie...get outta there! (sorry Chris ...I know how you love the Majestic Magpie!) ...
Linking up to Wild Bird Wednesday where you can see all sorts of great birds .... just click on the spindly legged guy below if you would like to go straight to the page.