Novelty Owls

[StuartRae]

While I was in the Lake District last week I visited the owl sanctuary at Muncaster Castle.

It was overcast and grey, and the birds were mostly sitting at the back of their cages, making lighting difficult. an additional problem was the wire netting I had to shoot through.

These shots aren't technically the best, but I'd like to share them with you. I just love the attitude of the smaller owls, which seem to be the terriers of the bird world.


This little fellow looks thoroughly pissed off - presumably because everyone laughs at his ridiculously large feet.

(350D, 70-300 IS @ 300mm, f5.6, 1/40 sec, ISO 200)

This one definitely needs to change his hairdresser

(350D, 70-300 IS @ 95mm, f5.6, 1/50 sec, ISO 200)

And this one looks as if he's just come out of the tumble drier

(350D, 70-300 IS @ 165mm, f5.6, 1/80 sec, ISO 200)

Stuart

 

[Asher Kelman]

Stuart,

I like the pictures. Are these regular wild owls or thee result of some genetic mishap? I'd imagine that the large claws can catch a rabbit but could it then fly off with its prey?

Asher

 

[Arya Wiese]

I love the last image, the background blur and his beautiful eye just draw me in. thank you for sharing with me.

 

[Asher Kelman]

So is someone going to explain something about these creatures instead of them just standing there waiting for attention? Owls with big feet might be a good gimmicks for a sandel company or Dr Scholls foot pads, but for me, i'd like to know what they are for!

Asher

 

[StuartRae]

I love the last image, the background blur and his beautiful eye just draw me in. thank you for sharing with me.

Arya,

Thank you for looking, and the kind comments. I just love the expression of the first one.

Are these regular wild owls or thee result of some genetic mishap?

Asher,

Thanks for looking. These are all genuine owls. The Owl Centre at Muncaster is part of the World Owl Project.

As for the feet, they might be easier to explain if I knew to which species they belong. (Maybe someone can help with ID?).

As far as I can tell the little fellow is likely to be a Pearl-spotted Owlet, in which case its food consists of "Mainly invertebrates, but powerful talons allow it to catch birds up to the size of large weavers, small mammals and reptiles", so the big feet allow it to catch larger prey.

There is a slim chance that it could be a Eurasian Pygmy Owl, although I doubt it. It's habitat is N and C Europe, spreading east across Siberia and into N China. In this case the large feet may act as snow-shoes.

(A third possibility, which I have reluctantly excluded, is that it's fond of a few glasses of good scotch, and the large feet prevent it from falling over).

Regards,

Stuart

 

[Andrew Stannard]

Great images Stuart - the third is my favourite, it's nicely separated from the background, and the colour seem to contrast well.

I can vouch for the these being genuine owls - visted there myself a few years ago, it's a centre that's really interested in the welfare of the birds, and well worth the visit. You right about the attitude of these smaller owls though - I'm sure they all think that they're 10 times the size they really are!


Thanks for posting,

Andy.

 

[John_Nevill]

I'm guessing, but I think the first and last are Pygmy Owls and the second could be a Screech Owl. The first one may be indgenous to the UK, the others are posssibly Asian or South American.

The Hawk Conservancy (Andover) and the Owl Santuary (New forest) have Pygmy Owls.

Nice shots, although, pity about the wire in shot two. I'd be tempted to blur the background and brighten the yellow eyes a little.

 

[StuartRae]

You right about the attitude of these smaller owls though - I'm sure they all think that they're 10 times the size they really are!

Thanks Andy. The bigger owls seem much more laid back. There was an altercation between two dogs - lots of barking, growling, etc. - and a Great Horned Owl flew to the side of its enclosure, looked down at them and in a sort of disinterested way said "Ooooh".


John,

i'd agree about the Screech Owl, and you're probably right about the Pygmy Owls. The Screech is definitely indigenous to the UK - they kept me awake for much of my childhood.

It was a shame about the wire in lots of shots. If I could get right up to the enclosure and put the lens in a gap it was OK, but otherwise it was difficult.

And just to prove that some of the owls were 'normal', here's a Great Grey Owl.

Stuart

 

[Asher Kelman]

Stuart,

Thanks for the info on these owls! The great grey owl is amazingly handsome. I take your word that this owl is not wearing Tiffany diamonds!

I'll remember this beauty and also the sharp ripping beak and the long razer talons! This guy must be ferocious.

Asher