Northern Saw-whet Owl

[AgingEyes]

Saying that the lighting was far from ideal is an understatement. It was simply dark

ISO 1600 f4 1/30 sec. Did some level adjustment in pp and sharpened.




Got some with the owl facing the camera but they either have the owl's eyes closed or half-closed.

I don't like its hairdo

[scott-devon]

I've yet to get a shot of an owl. Very cool.

[mn shutterbug]

I love them eyes.

[alexkhoo82]

Nice owl shot! But the branch is very distracting..

[paulnj]

You would be hard pressed to find a saw-whet out in the open because they are eaten readily by hawks. Great shot, but did you find it from the scat on the ground below it?

[AgingEyes]

did you find it from the scat on the ground below it?

I did not find it myself. I saw a group of people standing there watching so I just walked to them there.

[paulnj]

ah, that sounds easier

[AgingEyes]

ah, that sound easier

No way I would be able to find it myself. I didn't even know it existed

[Loupey]

No way I would be able to find it myself. I didn't even know it existed

LOL - that sounds like me!

I've shot in the company of true birders a few times. They point, I shoot, then Paulnj ID's

[paulnj]

Not to sound like a mean guy, but I will tell people I think have ETHICS how to locate Sawwhet owls via PM. It's not easy, but I know the habit to look in and how to spot them quite well.

The reason I will decline to tell everyone is you can actually reach out and touch a sawhet owl and I have seen (naughty work) s do just that and flush the bird into a waiting cooper's hawk's lunchbox.

A saw whet owl is very small and it's only defense is to hide by day or be eaten.

the saw whet owl has a short whistle sound to it's call that's repetative and is a northern species that winters where it's still cold(usually) , yet not too snow covered to find small rodents.