Another GGO Hunting Sequence

[NorthernFocus]

This seemed to be the typical hunting tactic in a forested area.

1) Watching/listening about 30ft(10m) up an aspen tree.

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2) Launch

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3) A single flap of the wings.

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4) Silent glide

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5) Flare to slow down and gain a little altitude for the final dive.

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6) Last second course correction.

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7) Going for it. In this case the prey apparently moved and the bird was coming in at a shallow angle rather than a plunging dive.

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8) Aaaaand missed it. The bird sat on the snow for a minute looking around almost as if embarrassed and hoping no one was watching. Possibly trying to relocate the prey? This is an example of where still photography couldn't do the scene justice as the bird swiveled its head around this way and that.

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[marc]

A wonderful set Dan, superbly executed.

 

[Abinoone]

Beautiful Dan! Would love to see a GGO someday.

 

[Ralph]

This seemed to be the typical hunting tactic in a forested area.

1) Watching/listening about 30ft(10m) up an aspen tree.
View attachment 56634

2) Launch
View attachment 56635
3) A single flap of the wings.
View attachment 56636

4) Silent glide
View attachment 56637

5) Flare to slow down and gain a little altitude for the final dive.
View attachment 56638

6) Last second course correction.
View attachment 56639

7) Going for it. In this case the prey apparently moved and the bird was coming in at a shallow angle rather than a plunging dive.
View attachment 56640

8) Aaaaand missed it. The bird sat on the snow for a minute looking around almost as if embarrassed and hoping no one was watching. Possibly trying to relocate the prey? This is an example of where still photography couldn't do the scene justice as the bird swiveled its head around this way and that.
View attachment 56641

Excellent Dan ! Right on itLove the intensity of the 3rd shot.

 

[Jonathan]

Wow! All are great, my favorite is #5, the flare. Great position for the bird and the trees in the background provide context of the hunting environment on the forest edge.

Looks like you had a successful trip, all your recent Great Grey Owl photos have been amazing! Thanks for sharing.

 

[PhD69]

Pictures + comments = top notch

 

[gdecamp]

These are awesome Dan!

 

[Steve]

Another incredible series - #5 is perfection!

 

[ssheipel]

Now you're just rubbing it in More GREAT shots!

 

[Hobbzz]

Nice catch Dan!

 

[Patrick M]

Great sequence!

 

[NorthernFocus]

A wonderful set Dan, superbly executed.

Thanks, Marc.

Beautiful Dan! Would love to see a GGO someday.

Thanks, Clark. Keep looking. There's an abundance of them in winter in Alberta.

Excellent Dan ! Right on itLove the intensity of the 3rd shot.

Thanks, Ralph. Of all of the shots I got of these guys that is my favorite position for that reason. They look so determined.

Wow! All are great, my favorite is #5, the flare. Great position for the bird and the trees in the background provide context of the hunting environment on the forest edge.

Looks like you had a successful trip, all your recent Great Grey Owl photos have been amazing! Thanks for sharing.

Glad you've enjoyed them Jonathan.

Pictures + comments = top notch

Thanks, Phillipe.

 

[NorthernFocus]

These are awesome Dan!

Thanks, George.

Another incredible series - #5 is perfection!

Thanks for the kind comment, Steve. Yeah it's hard to beat a bird in spread eagle position.

Now you're just rubbing it in More GREAT shots!

Not intentionally. All I've got right now is owls.

Nice catch Dan!

Thanks, Brent.

Great sequence!

Thanks, Patrick.

 

[Rookie Roy]

This seemed to be the typical hunting tactic in a forested area.

1) Watching/listening about 30ft(10m) up an aspen tree.
View attachment 56634

2) Launch
View attachment 56635
3) A single flap of the wings.
View attachment 56636

4) Silent glide
View attachment 56637

5) Flare to slow down and gain a little altitude for the final dive.
View attachment 56638

6) Last second course correction.
View attachment 56639

7) Going for it. In this case the prey apparently moved and the bird was coming in at a shallow angle rather than a plunging dive.
View attachment 56640

8) Aaaaand missed it. The bird sat on the snow for a minute looking around almost as if embarrassed and hoping no one was watching. Possibly trying to relocate the prey? This is an example of where still photography couldn't do the scene justice as the bird swiveled its head around this way and that.
View attachment 56641

Beautiful action series Dan!

 

[Colleen]

Great series!

 

[bsinc1962]

The whole series is amazing Dan.

What are your thoughts on the 400 4.5 ? Judging by these I would say positive.

 

[Mark Garfinkel]

Another incredible series - Last one #8 is my favorite

 

[Butlerkid]

Simply another stunning set of image, Dan! You and that Z9 have really bonded! And I'm glad to see the 400 f4.5 doing such a nice job, also!

 

[NorthernFocus]

Beautiful action series Dan!

Thanks, Roy.

Great series!

Thanks, Colleen.

The whole series is amazing Dan.

What are your thoughts on the 400 4.5 ? Judging by these I would say positive.

Thanks, Bill. It's an amazing little lens. A bit short for me. 400mm is an awkward length. But the way DOF works out at DX crop it works out about equivalent to a 600 6.3. So for consumer photography it works pretty well.

Another incredible series - Last one #8 is my favorite

Glad you enjoyed the images, Mark.

Simply another stunning set of image, Dan! You and that Z9 have really bonded! And I'm glad to see the 400 f4.5 doing such a nice job, also!

Thanks, Karen. Yeah once the AF got straightened out and they freed up the button customization some I warmed up to it. I've always loved shooting a gripped Nikon body. Not so crazy about toting them around

 

[frdjohns]

Dan - what an excellent series. You sure picked the right spot to wait.

 

[Rassie]

Great series, Dan.
Any chance you could recover some detail in the snow in the last image? Perhaps pull back the highlights a bit?

 

[Woody Meristem]

Outstanding sequence of photographs -- very well done.

 

[NorthernFocus]

Dan - what an excellent series. You sure picked the right spot to wait.

Thanks, Fred.

Great series, Dan.
Any chance you could recover some detail in the snow in the last image? Perhaps pull back the highlights a bit?

Thanks, Rassie. Not much there but below is a try.

Outstanding sequence of photographs -- very well done.

Thanks much, Woody.

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[jfredrick]

Beautiful bird and shots Dan!

 

[MikeA]

WoW A most wonderful series!!!