Barn Owl photography shock!

tceditor · #1 (**permalink**) 24-09-2011, 08:43 PM

Hello all

I had to share today's experience with you all as it's something I never thought something like this would ever happen to me.

I met with a local man who wants some photographs of his Little Kestral and Barn Owl for a website I'm building. He's never done a photoshoot with the birds, so we went to the spot he normally fly's them in and took upon taking pics of them flying.

During the shoot I noticed the owl was rather attracted to the sound of my Canon 60D as he flew overhead and would go into a short hover to have a look as to what might be making the sound.

A little later, he was on a post and I wanted him to fly towards the camera so I called him myself. He is only 7 months and never responded to another persons call apart from his owner. His owner wasn't even sure he would respond. What happened next just blew my mind.

'Breckan' flew towards me perfectly as planned and I got the images I needed- I was then rewarded by Breckan landing on my lens and pecking my finger. He then continued to settle down on the lens for the next 5 minutes.

I know he is a captive owl but I he had never done anything like this and even his owner couldn't believe it!

The plan for the next shoot is to lay in long grass and shoot into the sky and hopes he goes into a hover above me.

Enjoy the pics

Paul

tceditor · #2 (**permalink**) 24-09-2011, 08:49 PM

Here are the pics

John · #3 (**permalink**) 24-09-2011, 08:50 PM

Wow!!!, captive bird or not, that is one heck of a moment.

John

Quote:

Originally Posted by tceditor

Hello all

I had to share today's experience with you all as it's something I never thought something like this would ever happen to me.

I met with a local man who wants some photographs of his Little Kestral and Barn Owl for a website I'm building. He's never done a photoshoot with the birds, so we went to the spot he normally fly's them in and took upon taking pics of them flying.

During the shoot I noticed the owl was rather attracted to the sound of my Canon 60D as he flew overhead and would go into a short hover to have a look as to what might be making the sound.

A little later, he was on a post and I wanted him to fly towards the camera so I called him myself. He is only 7 months and never responded to another persons call apart from his owner. His owner wasn't even sure he would respond. What happened next just blew my mind.

'Breckan' flew towards me perfectly as planned and I got the images I needed- I was then rewarded by Breckan landing on my lens and pecking my finger. He then continued to settle down on the lens for the next 5 minutes.

I know he is a captive owl but I he had never done anything like this and even his owner couldn't believe it!

The plan for the next shoot is to lay in long grass and shoot into the sky and hopes he goes into a hover above me.

Enjoy the pics

Paul

Red Squirrel · #4 (**permalink**) 24-09-2011, 08:53 PM

Lucky you to be so close to a barn owl.

Farplace · #5 (**permalink**) 24-09-2011, 09:13 PM

What a beautiful bird, thanks for sharing!

davecatt · #6 (**permalink**) 24-09-2011, 10:03 PM

Owls have very sensitive hearing and your camera obviously gave off a sound that caught its attention.

On a visit to a bird of prey centre a few years ago I watched a visitor trying to get a photo of a Eagle Owl,the Owl was on its keepers wrist and the photographer was stood quite close,each time she raised the camera the Owl turned its head away (probably been photo'd before and did'n't like the flash) So on the third time this happened I pursed my lips and and sucked air in making a squeaking sound, it immediately whipped its head round and looked directly at me even though I must have been 40 or 50 yards away.

The lady got her photo none the wiser as to what had just happend.

Steve S · #7 (**permalink**) 25-09-2011, 08:31 AM

Next time take a macro lens!

operanut1972 · #8 (**permalink**) 25-09-2011, 09:01 AM

What a wonderful experience, even with a captive animal, that is an unusual encounter!

. Looking forward to seeing more from future encounters.

Thanks for sharing.

Alan Hewitt · #9 (**permalink**) 25-09-2011, 06:53 PM

Amazing! I am doing a Bird of Prey / Owl shoot hopefully this week for a rescue / rehab centre and while visiting a couple of weeks back I was quite in awe of the barn owls. Superb creatures and that must have been quite a moment.