Close Encounter by danob
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
A very close encounter with this majestic Great Grey Owl I caught in Flight recently at the Hawk Conservancy.
The wide-eyed Great Grey Owls always seem to be looking straight through me whenever I have had the opportunity to capture one. A "piercing" yellow gaze focused on food and it's a basic necessity the Great Grey Owls are terribly short of if the lemming populations take a dive in native Canada or Nothern Europe.
It is little wonder since it displays those features that are so appealing about owls in marvellous exaggeration. Often described as the "Ulitmate owl". The scientific name nebulosa is derived from the Latin Nebulosus, meaning misty or foggy and one of their local names in America is Great Grey Ghost, which reflects their particularly silent flight.
The most striking feature of the Great Grey, apart from those eyes, is the enormous facial disk with its barred spectacle markings, which do give that wise old owl impression. A closer look at these facial disk feathers reveals them to be, like those of the barn owl, almost skeletal in their structure, so allowing sound to pass through easily and be funnelled to the ear openings.
Great Grey Owls have such sensitive hearing that they can hear and capture a vole under a foot of snow: very important when your home range includes the Rocky Mountains, Alaska, Scandinavia and Northern Eurasia.
Thanks for taking time to view and for any comments etc you care to make
Comments (57)
Lovely image! 5+!
Impressive and majestic bird, captured so nicely. Very interesting narrative too, Danny!
Impressive work
Wonderful wildlife capture!! super clarity and lighting!!!
i must get my glasses seen to danny cos i saw something completely different in the thumd :o)..excellent capture mate mick
Awesome!
I love this capture. What a wonderfully expressive face and shot. Bunny
Magnifique.
Wow, this is great Danny; I love it!! I love the font too lol :)
Superb in action photography Danny, I adore these magnificent owls. Excellent!! hugs Jane xx
Wish I a close encounter like this. Most excellent capture. Aloha
Really amazing capture!
Danny you work is always amazing but this IMO is one of your top shots.
Excellent capture, Danny! I love the detail in his face. His wings are amazing, too.
Fantastic shot, awesome detail!!!
A magnificent shot ! Bravo ! I'm sure it was a very difficult shot to do !
Do they eat snakes? It just came up. Are they more finicky than eagles? Not really a desert or upland bird I suppose.
Superb in-flight capture Danny! Excellent shot mate!
This owl came straight for you.Excellent capture.
Stunning capture Danny... you'r the master of marvelous captures with birds!
wow. excellent capture! FANTASTIC
Owls are such beautiful birds.
Stunning in flight capture
Once again a beautiful shot in each and every way,awesome capture.
Great portrait at fly.. lovely colours, focus and details. Hugs
Spectacular, what a beauty !
"Majestic" certainly fits. There's something about birds of prey in flight; They always have such a serious expression.