Dianthus sp.
Little Downy Woodpecker at work
Pretty good camouflage
An unusually pale American Robin
Red Squirrel
Swivel-head
Dainty little Common Redpoll
Time for an old barn again
One year ago
A photographer's nightmare
The cross and the moon
'Superman, where are you now?'
Pine Grosbeak / Pinicola enucleator
Little country church
A quick glance
Sweet little garden ornament
Delicate colours of summer
Varied Thrush - a lifer
Northern Hawk Owl with Meadow Vole
Aging gracefully
Common Redpoll / Carduelis flammea
A friendly greeting
When the clouds roll in
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Pine Grosbeak
Short-eared Owl
Embracing the sun
Eurasian Collared-Dove / Streptopelia decaocto
Much better than a utility pole
Rent a canoe at Emerald Lake
Dainty little Common Redpoll
Yesterday's treat
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A great winter for Pine Grosbeaks
One of my favourite birds to photograph
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Wearing a heavy coat of hoar frost
Pine Grosbeak / Pinicola enucleator
European Pasque Flower / Pulsatilla vulgaris
A fence without an owl
Matching colours
One day closer to spring
Downy Woodpecker
Sweet little poser
Common Redpoll in the forest
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379 visits
On the hunt


I decided to drive NW of the city yesterday, 11 February 2016, to make a second visit to see if there was any sight of the Northern Hawk Owl. It looked like the three hours of driving round trip, plus driving several of the backroads nearby a few times, were going to be in vain. Sure, the sun was shining, the sky a deep blue and some of the scenery was beautiful, but, let's be honest, it would have been disappointing to not see any owls, of any species.
After a great deal of patience, managed only because friend, Bonnie, had also decided to go there, we finally were in luck. At the time the owl was spotted by another photographer (thanks so much, Harshad!) who was further down the road from us, I had just said to Bonnie that I had spent enough time up there and really wanted to do the long drive home before it got dark, because of poor night vision. There were just the three of us when Harshad saw the owl on top of a distant tree. During the afternoon, though, various people came and went. No owl baiters turned up, thank goodness, unlike on my first visit. That day, one of the photographers who was already there got rid of them very quickly, as soon as they arrived. However, yesterday, apparently the owl was seen with a white rodent, so baiters are still getting the chance to bait with store-bought mice.
This photo was obviously not taken in the best setting, but it still gives a good idea of what this owl looks like. I don't know why owls (including Snowy Owls) like perching on top of very tall utility poles. Presumably because they get such a good, clear view from up there, making it easier to spot prey, but also because they get used to owl baiters on the roads.
Part way through my visit, I enjoyed such an interesting chat with someone who happened to be driving down one of the backroads in the opposite direction to me. Stirling Clark is a carpenter, who makes beautiful furniture (and other things) in the Finish style. He has 20+ years of experience with Finish carpentry, door and trim installation, built in custom cabinetry, hardwood floor installation, stairs and railings, outdoor decks, siding, renovations and new construction, and general carpentry. His (other) passion is photography, enjoying nature, landscapes and wildlife. He told me that he had a Northern Hawk Owl visit him at his carpentry workshop recently - quite a treat. A pleasure to meet you, Stirling!
www.stirlingclark.ca/carpentry.html
www.stirlingclark.ca/photography.html
"The type of prey the Hawk-Owl catches will determine its eating strategy. For mammalian prey the ritual is generally the same: the Northern Hawk-Owl will eviscerate its prey, eats the head first (especially for prey like the red squirrel, whose head is fairly large), and then—when tackling larger prey—it will eat the organs and cache the remains; with smaller prey, the owl will simply swallow the body whole."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Hawk-Owl
"The Northern Hawk Owl can detect prey by sight at a distance of up to 800 meters (half a mile). Though it is thought to detect prey primarily by sight, the Northern Hawk Owl can find and seize prey under 30 cm (1 foot) of snow." From AllAboutBirds.
www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/northern_hawk_owl/lifehistory
After a great deal of patience, managed only because friend, Bonnie, had also decided to go there, we finally were in luck. At the time the owl was spotted by another photographer (thanks so much, Harshad!) who was further down the road from us, I had just said to Bonnie that I had spent enough time up there and really wanted to do the long drive home before it got dark, because of poor night vision. There were just the three of us when Harshad saw the owl on top of a distant tree. During the afternoon, though, various people came and went. No owl baiters turned up, thank goodness, unlike on my first visit. That day, one of the photographers who was already there got rid of them very quickly, as soon as they arrived. However, yesterday, apparently the owl was seen with a white rodent, so baiters are still getting the chance to bait with store-bought mice.
This photo was obviously not taken in the best setting, but it still gives a good idea of what this owl looks like. I don't know why owls (including Snowy Owls) like perching on top of very tall utility poles. Presumably because they get such a good, clear view from up there, making it easier to spot prey, but also because they get used to owl baiters on the roads.
Part way through my visit, I enjoyed such an interesting chat with someone who happened to be driving down one of the backroads in the opposite direction to me. Stirling Clark is a carpenter, who makes beautiful furniture (and other things) in the Finish style. He has 20+ years of experience with Finish carpentry, door and trim installation, built in custom cabinetry, hardwood floor installation, stairs and railings, outdoor decks, siding, renovations and new construction, and general carpentry. His (other) passion is photography, enjoying nature, landscapes and wildlife. He told me that he had a Northern Hawk Owl visit him at his carpentry workshop recently - quite a treat. A pleasure to meet you, Stirling!
www.stirlingclark.ca/carpentry.html
www.stirlingclark.ca/photography.html
"The type of prey the Hawk-Owl catches will determine its eating strategy. For mammalian prey the ritual is generally the same: the Northern Hawk-Owl will eviscerate its prey, eats the head first (especially for prey like the red squirrel, whose head is fairly large), and then—when tackling larger prey—it will eat the organs and cache the remains; with smaller prey, the owl will simply swallow the body whole."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Hawk-Owl
"The Northern Hawk Owl can detect prey by sight at a distance of up to 800 meters (half a mile). Though it is thought to detect prey primarily by sight, the Northern Hawk Owl can find and seize prey under 30 cm (1 foot) of snow." From AllAboutBirds.
www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/northern_hawk_owl/lifehistory
I Holzi, , , Pam J and 2 other people have particularly liked this photo
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This is AMAZING !!! What I wouldnt give !!
And Stirling is a Master Carpenter and a joy to see his work (and his photography!). My Dad was apprentised as a cabinet maker.. and so I grew up with beautiful carpentry. He made me my own set of small tools and tasught me froman early age to use them safely.
Congrats on Explore.
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