poontang Posted April 18, 2015 Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 Recently me and a friend have been trying to get up close and personal with a couple of Barn Owls that have been frequenting the local area. We know pretty much where they hunt, and at what times, but catching them out and about is not so easy. Last Saturday we met up at a local reservoir at 5.45am and with the sun still low in the sky the light looked good, the cameras were ready and all we needed was an owl or two. After about 20 minutes of watching and waiting...nothing happened This little lady was sat watching, and probably laughing at us, while basking in the warm morning light... After a little while we decided to drive to another spot in the hope of catching a glimpse of our quarry. A two mile drive, and something caught my eye sitting on a post at the side of the road. Swinging the car off the road and onto the verge I jumped out and managed a quick shot of what we'd come to see... The bird, no doubt disturbed by my Sweeney style driving skills, took to the wing and put some distance between us. No problem. A superbly executed 8 point turn soon had us back on the trail. She hunted on the margins of a distant field before dropping on her prey. Unfortunately she was mobbed by two crows and lost her catch. Looking totally pee'd off she flew up into a nearby tree to contemplate her next move... We had got what we came for and left the owl in peace after a few minutes and returned to our starting point at the reservoir. Whilst chatting I noticed one of the Grebes fishing in the shallow water. He struggled with this one, it took him a good 10 minutes to finally get it down his neck!! A quick trip to McDonalds for breakfast, and whilst sitting in the car park this chap floated across on the warm thermals. Amazing what can be seen when you least expect it... A couple of evenings ago I decided to pay a visit to a Little Owl nest and catch up with its residents. The male bird is quite used to me and my mate now and let us get within a few yards of him. He's a stunning little chap, full of charachter... And here he is coughing up a pellet... After a few minutes we left him be and headed out to spot the Barn Owls again. It was getting late and the sun was setting behind some fairly heavy cloud when this chap showed up hunting along the margins of a nearby rape field... Hope you enjoy the pics. They were all taken on a Pentax K-50 with a Sigma 150-500 lens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted April 18, 2015 Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 great pictures Poontang, looks like the little owl is telling you in no uncertain terms to #### off, any suggestions from the anglers on here what sort of fish the grebe is eating ( im guessing a rudd) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted April 18, 2015 Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 Great photos indeed :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerSim Posted April 18, 2015 Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 Stunning pics, again - thanks for sharing - brightened my day. ATB Sim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted April 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 great pictures Poontang, looks like the little owl is telling you in no uncertain terms to #### off, any suggestions from the anglers on here what sort of fish the grebe is eating ( im guessing a rudd) Don't know much about fish, but I'm pretty sure it was a Roach. Glad you like the pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted April 18, 2015 Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 Stunning pic's, especially the one of the Barn Owl with the hedgerow as background. Fabulous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted April 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 (edited) Stunning pic's, especially the one of the Barn Owl with the hedgerow as background. Fabulous. Thank you. Edited April 18, 2015 by poontang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinchesterDave Posted April 18, 2015 Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 Cracking pictures PT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted April 18, 2015 Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 Excellent work thanks for sharing... Fish looks like a perch to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted April 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 Excellent work thanks for sharing... Fish looks like a perch to me. Could be Mike, like I say I don't really know much about fish. This shot might give a better indication? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted April 18, 2015 Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 Yep Perch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted April 18, 2015 Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 Yep Perch No argument here, I think thats a better picture PT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruity Posted April 18, 2015 Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 Lovely pictures, keep them coming . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bode.boden Posted April 18, 2015 Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 my favourite bird the barn owl many moons ago we used to bread them and other birds but it's allways nice to see them in there natural surroundings great photos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulABF Posted April 18, 2015 Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 Very impressive set of photos there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telf Posted April 18, 2015 Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 cracking pics sir,little owl is fantastic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 18, 2015 Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 The Barn Owl=My favorite bird Thanks for sharing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_R Posted April 18, 2015 Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 Lovely pictures, and I too have the Sigma 150-500, a good lens indeed. It reminds me of watching a Grebe tackle an eel, he had quite a battle with it whipping round his neck, but he got it down in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbiep Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 Beautiful pics sir, many thanks for sharing ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norfolk dumpling Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 Can't imagine that perch went down easily. Quite a size and they are prickly little *****s - result probably a bout of indigestion. Love the little owls - they are immigrants by the way you UKIP supporters! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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