Archive | April 2014

Danger! Love! Sleeping! Owl nest has it all!

I went back to photograph the Great Horned owl nest yesterday, and it was much like many bird nests I have taken shots at. Somewhat boring, with brief moments of excitement.

The shoot started with the two chicks taking a nap, with brief stretching and alert periods.

Things got interesting when this Cooper’s Hawk showed up…I thought the adults were asleep, but the one perched above my head gave chase. Danger averted!

Here is the hawk watching from a distance.

This was my attempt to get the landing of an adult on the nest… Not too easy in the low light!

The chicks look interested though.

Here is the adult scoping out a dog and walker.

The adult actually managed to squeeze in there!

A comfy chick cuddles up to its alert parent.

For more owl goodness, check out this video below.

Weekend Expedition 45: Nesting Great Horned Owls!

Apr6

So yesterday, my brother Colin and I went out to see a hummingbird nest…And I realized we were quite near an area which has supported nesting Great Horned Owls for a number of years. I had never really had a tripod with me or a fast lens, so I had never gone into this dark and gloomy part of the forest to find it. Having both things on hand this time, we went to have a look, and to our surprise, the nest was quite visible from a nearby walking path! What a great day out!

Here we can see one of the chicks poking its head out to have a look. It may seem from these pictures that the adult was concerned we were there, but the majority of the time the bird seemed to be snoozing, only briefly opening its eyes.

Here the adult does some preening, while the chick has a look at a dog walking by on the trail.

I love how distinguished these owls look.

Here is a rare frame where the adult and the chick watch while we change positions.

Here is a shot of the adult with two chicks, one alert and one yawning.

In case you are wondering what the hummingbird nest looked like, have a look at this beauty!

And in other bird nesting news, check out this shot my brother got of a Cooper’s Hawk grabbing a branch for a nest just behind where the hummingbird nest was! Photo by Colin McCann.

Get it while you can

Apr2

A beautiful male Woodlouse Hunter, Dysdera crocata. I am pretty sure we encountered the same one last year under the same log.

Things are busy right now, as I am trying to arrange to defend my thesis, finishing up writing tasks and seeking a postdoc….But spring is still springing, and outside is so beautiful and warm! Hell, I could be dead tomorrow, so why not go out and see what I can see in the sunshine. Here are a few of the pictures from the past few days, as the warm spring sunshine activates the local fauna!

A Giant House Spider, in her house under a rock.

First (live) Polistes of the year from Victoria.

A male Anna’s Hummingbird, from Mt. Tolmie.

Off-colour commentary by a gull?

I stopped down to f18 to try to get some mountains behind this gull.

A Nomada parasitic bee, on the lookout for hosts.

This seems to be a good year for garter snakes.

These gall wasps were having an ovipositionathon on the newly sprouting Garry Oak leaves. I think these are the jumping gall wasp, Neuroterus saltatorius.

This is the defensive posture, but it almost looks like he is casting a spell (or he has root hairs stuck in his claws).