LaithKhalaf

Moonlight Massacre

Having caught a Common Shrew, this male Barn owl flies towards its nest to feed its chicks.
This Barn owl was very successful on the evening in question....
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Having caught a Common Shrew, this male Barn owl flies towards its nest to feed its chicks.
This Barn owl was very successful on the evening in question. With every outing on the hunt, he seemed to achieve a kill and take advantage of this season where prey is very plentiful. During summer months when there is lots of food around for them, these owls don't tend to travel far from the nest as they don't need to. They hunt in the local vicinity of their nests, whereas in winter months they can fly up to a 5km radius from their nests looking for food.
For this photograph I setup position among some reeds and had three positions I could shoot from as I was surrounded by vegetation. I also had to go out in full camo gear because their eyesight is so sharp. It gives me that extra little advantage where they can get that little bit closer without locating me.
This guy spotted me as he was flying quite close and towards me then within a split second, he veered off course. This was the moment of realisation for him and split second before he veered off course.
I had an amazing evening photographing this stunning owl and I got some fabulous shots, which I'll be sharing more of soon.
Being bitten by loads of flying insects is the only downside to being within marshland past dusk, but it is absolutely worth it to just be in their presence, to observe and to photograph them ????
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