Young Little Owl.

[JohnP]

I have posted shots of this Little Owl before... but not this particular photo. Where I used to live a pair of Little Owls nested every year in a pile of builders rubble at the back of a barn 50 yards from my place. I spent most of one Sunday getting an handful of shots, one of the Owls would poke it's head out of the rubble and spot me straightaway and disappear in a flash. I was trying to use an old stone wall as cover which did help a bit but not much.

 

[annie]

that is utterly lovely......................how i wish i could just see something like him, let alone get a picture...

[Phil]

Tis a beauty John.

 

I can imagine it being reminiscent of the old TV ad with the chap attempting to shoot penguins on roller skates, every time you duck down the owl comes out and sticks its tongue out.

[JohnP]

Here are some shots of one of an earlier brood from the same pair of Little Owls, these were taken in July 2009 after the youngsters had left the nest. The one above was taken in June 2011 when the youngsters were about to leave the nest.. hope this makes sense.

 

 

 

[Heather]

john these are cracking shots. i especially love the way the owl is so well camouflaged in the first one

[NannyFerret]

Love them all.

[annie]

i thought owls only came out at night?

[JohnP]

i thought owls only came out at night?

 

annie... with most Owls it is true they are more active during darkness, Little Owls are the opposite and are more active during daylight hours.

[annie]

where should i go to find one john...............mind i would probably squeal with fright if one flew at me..!

[NannyFerret]

They are lovely creatures.

[JohnP]

annie... you can sometimes see them flying around in the countryside... not usually in towns. They nest in all sorts of places, it's usually some sort of cavity. It can be a hollow tree, a hole in stone wall, they like old farm building, even a hole in the ground if it's in a dry place. As I said the young in these photos are from different broods in two different years but the pair nested in the same hole in the same pile of rubble several times.

 

Not a great shot... taken from my front door (where I used to live).. lots of zoom and a crop.

 

[Kobione]

Fascinating, John - and that first shot is just lovely!

[NannyFerret]

Lovely eye contact too.

[annie]

i need to find some nerve and start wandering then.........!

[ChrisLumix]

Beautifully camouflaged. Such expressive eyes. Great shot  

[FUJI]

A wonderful set of shots that I wish I had taken.....he only Owls I have seen have been captive ones at shows:

 

FUJI