Payoff Finally After 2-1/2 Years

[Loupey]

Barred owls are not exactly uncommon in central Ohio (I hear them quite often) but I had spent the last two and a half years searching for them.

I've only seen two mating pairs in that time and both were in less than ideal photo situations. So I finally found one this weekend in the early morning light. My heart skipped several beats I think

These are uncropped images taken with the 500mm and 50D combo. Finally seeing one out in the open and at close range, I was quite shocked at how large it was when it flew away from me (twice). Had it flew in my direction, I probably would have screamed like a girl.