GHO in Tree Cavity

Got a tip from a fellow “Owl’er”.  I took the chance with the weather and took off 80 miles to find the nest, still in Central Illinois.  Had a pin where to park, and a rough map of where the cavity tree was, but still took me a while to located it.  Especially since I had map upside down and started off walking away from the nest.  Went back to the truck and regrouped and started over in the right direction.  When I finally found the hole, only 1 fuzzy white head was visible.  I got 3 shots off hand held before it went back down inside the tree.  Moved the truck into location where I could observe the tree for over an hour with NO activity.  Decided I go to the nearest town, grabbed lunch and a bio break.

Went back to observation spot, still nothing.  I reclined the trucks seat and started streaming Shelby’s college softball game.  I would check the cavity every time they changed the field.  Finally in the bottom of the 4th, mom was spotted in the nest cavity.  I don’t know if she flew in, or if she climbed up from deeper in the cavity.

You can barely see the top of one of the two owlets trying to push it’s way up.

These were shot with the new RF600mm F4 IS with a 1.4 TC so effectively a 840mm f5.6

Loving the new lens, and I’ll be back to check on this family again.  Judging by the size of the one Owlet I saw, they will start to fletching soon.

At least I finally found a brown owl (with help), just wish is was closer to home. I’ll be back in the woods looking for more local owls closer to home next week.

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Life is good and I am blessed!

GGO Fly By

Are you sick of Owls yet?  Edited some more Great Gray Owl photos from this year’s trip up to Sax Zim Bog.

Right to left fly by this time.

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Life is good and I am blessed.

Kent 

Stare, Launch, Flight, Kill, Reward

The stare, launch, flight, kill, and the reward!The Stare.  It is like they look right into your soul or through you. Their eyesight is so good I wonder if they are looking at their reflection in the lens.

The catch

The eating of the vole.You get all that?

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look!
Life is good and I am blessed!
Kent 

Mississippi River Eagles

It has been 9 winters since I have photographed American Bald Eagles on the mighty Mississippi River below Lock and Dam 14, just north of the Quad Cities.  This is one of my happy winter places as this is where the entire wildlife photography journey started back in 2010.  The light was all over the place today from heavy clouds, snow, and partial sunshine.  Wind was perfect for most of the afternoon, strong from the South.  At L&D 14 you want a North or South wind, otherwise you end up with nothing but butt shots.   I think I might go back Friday, but we really need more snow on the ground and more ice on the river. 

Trumpeter Swan

2.5 year of Juvenile

American White Pelican

Not all fishing passes are successful.  I like it when they missed, as it brings several other eagles into the action.  This is 1 pound gizzard shad.

Who want to go photograph eagles soon?

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look!
Life is good and I am blessed!
Kent