My Owl Encounter

[Loupey]

So this morning I'm hiking to the spot where I spotted the Pileated Woodpecker last week. The tree canopy has nearly doubled in density since last week and I could not find the woodpecker. As soon as I turn around to head back, I saw a large brief shadow out of the corner of my eyes. Thinking it might be the woodpecker, I immediately start my patented spin maneuver trying to spot any movement through the trees. As I'm spinning, I see a part of one large wing of an approaching bird behind a large tree about 20 feet away. As I'm lifting the camera to my eye, I'm thinking it is a hawk. Then, it pops out from behind the tree to give me an eye (#1). Just enough time to squeeze out 3 frames before it took off.

I thought that was it until it landed in a tree 40' opposite me and about 40' up. Anything beyond 45-degrees is very tough to hold.

These are all uncropped. Image #2 is with the 300mm alone, all others with the 2x TC.