Now this was something I hadn’t seen before. I spotted this gorgeous great horned owl this past weekend. It gave me a nice batch of pictures as it stood guard in the early morning sun.

What I did not realize at the time was that it had a fish in its talons! It was only when I got home and downloaded the pictures to my computer that I saw it.

Certainly owls are meat-eaters but their normal preference is for mice, voles and other more terrestrial food sources. I don’t expect the #owl actually caught the fish. More likely is that the fish was dropped by one of the bald eagles in the area and the owl wasn’t too proud to grab the leftovers.

Ever feel like you are being watched? It could be a creature like this great horned owl staying well-concealed but fully aware of you.

Such was the case for me yesterday on my photo walk. I was having a less than ideal morning with few worthy subjects. I decided to hike through some very thick trees along the South Platte River, knowing I have spotted owls there before.

As I am stepping over a log, I look up and happen to be lucky enough to spot this guy / gal looking right at me. I snapped a couple of quick shots of it before it took off. This image really pleases me as it shows just how we oftentimes have no idea what is right there, hiding and watching us.

Taken in Adams County, Colorado. 

A friend tipped me off to a spot not far from home where a great horned owl pair has been hanging out (thank you!).

This past Saturday I went to have a look and after a good while searching a stand of trees, I happened across one of them. It actually didn’t mind me one bit and let me take tons of pics of it sleeping.

However, some magpies soon discovered its hiding space and that did not go over so well. The owl woke up and stood ready, keeping close watch on the annoying noisemakers. It soon fled for a more sheltered spot, out of view of the magpies and I am sure enjoyed the quiet. 

By the way, in looking at this image, be sure to check out those talons. Wow!

Taken in  Thornton, Colorado.

This gorgeous bird was one of the photo subjects at a raptor photo shoot event I took part in back in October.

Once or twice a year I like to do these types of events as they give me an opportunity to practice and hone skills that I don’t have time to work on when in the field. They also allow for some way cool pictures like this one.

The detail I was able to capture was extraordinary from the scratched up beak to the fine details plumage. Just gorgeous!

When photographing wild birds, you rarely have time to tweak settings and get the finer details which is why these events are nice to do every once in a while.

Plus, they help support the great work of organizations like Nature’s Educators and allow me to use my Tamron Lenses USA SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2, a crazy awesome piece of glass.

Such impressive creatures and extraordinarily efficient hunters. You can easily imagine a poor rabbit below being terrified as this creature of the night descends on it. 😉

While I find and photograph these owls often in the wild, this particular one is a captive bird, owned by Nature’s Educators. The photoshoot with it allowed me to get some cool shots that are very hard to come by in the wild.

One thing that struck me about this particular bird originally from the Midwest was the darker plumage as compared to the ones I find on the Front Range in Colorado. Their plumage can vary based on geography, likely a result of local adaptations to the environment. Nature’s colors here in Colorado are quite muted and less vibrant and our #owls reflect that.

Quite the beautiful raptor! This was the second time I have seen this owl and its mate but the first time it allowed me to get some pictures. Best of all, it hopped up onto a branch in the relative open giving me some nice shots.

This capture really showcases those awesome, yellow eyes and the cool plumage that camouflages them and makes them masters at hiding.

Going back to May 2nd for this one and what was my last visit to this nest not far from my home.

Two of the three owlets had fledged and were now in a tree about 20 yards away. This little one though was still insisting on hanging out at its birthplace, not quite ready to fledge.

On this evening, it was standing on the rim of the tree cavity of its home, giving me a nice look at it as the sun began to set and lit up its eyes. I sure do miss the evenings I spent with this family but will be hoping for a happy return come next spring.

Taken in Thornton, Colorado

A great horned owl and her owlet enjoy a ‘moment’ at their nest a few weeks ago. It was very sweet and seems to be a very appropriate picture for Mother’s Day.

Whether wildlife or human, the matriarch of the family is the glue that binds all together. In their roles as protector and provider, they are invaluable and held in high esteem – as they should be.

Just as this owlet looks up to its mom, so too do I to mine. Lord knows that without her, I would not be the man I am today and I am forever grateful for her. I love you, Ma!

Probably the best shot I have ever gotten of an owl doing this. Watching owls can oftentimes be a bit boring as they do tend to sit for long periods of time. Sometimes though, they put on a bit of a show and such was the case this past Friday evening.

Thunderstorms were rolling by and the wind was howling quite a bit. One of the owlets had hopped from the nest and was across the trail while the other two remained in the nest. This meant mom and multiple spots to watch and she was keeping her head on a swivel. That gave me some nice looks including this.