A little tiny owl in camp

after tweaking it some in a photo program

Doe at Choke Canyon State Park

mallard

From the deer stand

 

Cool photos Becky.

You say you took these on the back part of your property?

 

Thanks.

I wished it was on my property. The three deer and the owl are on family land in South Texas that we hunt on. I wish she would sell it to us, but it's not likely to happen.It's about 4 miles, by road, from Choke Canyon State Park, you can see the lake from the deer stand. There was about 600 ducks (redheads, canvasbacks, teal, etc)on one point you could see with binoculars but wasn't close enough for photos. The tank on the place we hunt is almost dry this year so probably won't see any there. I sometimes try to sneak up on them and take pics, but it's tough crawling around on the ground dodging mesquite thorns, cactus and rattle snakes. Just about the time you get in position to take a pic, they bust you and away they fly.

 

Thanks for sharing. Really nice pics!
I like the natural camoflage on the animals when they are in their natural environment. Kinda cool actually.

 

what kind of camera and lens?

 

Canon xti w/Canon EF 75-300mm. Everything was handheld and shot at the 300 end so there's a bit of camera shake. The doe close-up had camera shake compounded with diesel truck shake, LOL, but it was bright enough to use a fast shutter speed to help offset it some.

We used a flashlight to focus on the owl. Would've never seen the owl except I heard it's claws as it took off from the top of the truck when we came back into camp. Shined the flashlight towards the sound and was able to follow him to the spot he landed. He's only about 8 inches tall. We see big owls quite often but this little guy was a first. He never did look at us though and I only had time for two pics, this one was the best.

 

I like the natural camoflage on the animals when they are in their natural environment.


Here we see the animal known as:"RJ"in it's natural habitat.
Few people know that it is rare to actually find one of these at home. Most are usually seen traveling about the country side in it's general mode of transportation called: Monte Carlo. Sometimes with it'S offspring in the back.
One word of caution. Never get your hands close to it's mouth. It's been known to inhale a pizza or two and it may mistake your hand for pizza.
It also has a sweet tooth. Like 28 of them.
If you happen to encounter one of these creatures it's best to back away slowly. And never stare directly in to it's eyes.
It may mistake this for love.

 

Taz, here's one that's really camoed. http://www.owlpages.com/image.php?im...s-flammeolus-4

The owlin campwas about the size of this one. http://www.owlpages.com/image.php?image=species-Megascops-kennicottii-6I'm sure it's a screech owl and going by location I believe it's an Eastern Screech Owl. The one in the link is a Western Screech Owl, but they are very similar. Most things I've found say about the only sure way to tell them apart in the field is by their voices. He didn't sing for me so who knows what his little voice sounds like, LOL

 

Thanks for the photos! I love animals and wildlife, wild Montes too.