Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Saw-whet Owl/Wild Bird

Northern saw-whet owl (Aegolius acadicus)

One of North-America's smallest owls, saw-whets in winter roost in small conifers, this one in a spruce. Adults are the approximate size of an American robin - about  seven to eight-and-a-half inches high.

Sleepy

A saw-whet's favourite prey is mice. One mouse is enough food for two meals.

Instead of flying when a saw-whet is discovered, it sits very still making it an easy photographer's model. However, I used a long lens hoping to not stress it too much.

I am joining Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

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58 comments:

  1. GreensboroDailyPhotoApril 2, 2013 at 6:17 AM

    great capture.. The owl looks so majestic!

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  2. KateApril 2, 2013 at 6:28 AM

    They DO look wise! They seem so mysterious and are a source of fascination.

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  3. JillApril 2, 2013 at 7:11 AM

    These are amazing captures of this true beauty!

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  4. AnonymousApril 2, 2013 at 7:12 AM

    Saw-whets are banded at Prince Edward Point Observatory, a fascinating process to watch.

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  5. Pamela GordonApril 2, 2013 at 8:08 AM

    Beautiful photos! I'd love to see an owl in the wild. I've only seen them flying across the highway at night it seems. Guess I need to get out in the woods more often. ;)

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  6. DarlaApril 2, 2013 at 8:09 AM

    What a beauty. Amazing that they are that small. Thanks for introducing me to yet another bird I didn't know about.

    Darla

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  7. DanaApril 2, 2013 at 8:52 AM

    The eyes in that first picture are mesmerizing! Wonderful shots. ☺

    Thanks so much for commenting on my haiku yesterday. It means a lot that you took the time to do that.

    Happy Tuesday!

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  8. MadSnapperApril 2, 2013 at 9:06 AM

    these are AWESOME shots and a truly awesome Owl..

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  9. KathyApril 2, 2013 at 9:17 AM

    What a cute little bird. And a couple of great pics!

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  10. sonia a. mascaroApril 2, 2013 at 9:27 AM

    Great photos! I'd love to see an owl around my yard too.

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  11. KarenApril 2, 2013 at 9:52 AM

    He sure is a tiny one. What great shots EG!

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  12. Gail DixonApril 2, 2013 at 9:58 AM

    Oh my gosh, these are awesome! He's so precious, I just want to pinch his little owl cheeks. What a great photo opportunity that you made the most of. I admire you for not wanting to stress out the bird to get more shots. I'd do the same if Barbara, our barred owl, showed any signs of stress, but I think she loves the attention.

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  13. Stefan JanssonApril 2, 2013 at 10:08 AM

    Great images. I have never been able to photograph an owl so I'm a bit jealous of you!

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  14. Gill - That British WomanApril 2, 2013 at 10:25 AM

    that is just lovely, I have never seen a wild owl in Canada.

    Gill

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  15. Grandma Barb's This and ThatApril 2, 2013 at 10:45 AM

    Awesome shots. I'm surprised they are that little.

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  16. JudyApril 2, 2013 at 10:45 AM

    Fantastic shots of this beautiful bird!

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  17. TexWisGirlApril 2, 2013 at 10:45 AM

    awesome!!! beautiful little thing!

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  18. SusanApril 2, 2013 at 10:57 AM

    Wow, I am always amazed at your photography! What a little cutie!

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  19. Pride In Photos BeautyApril 2, 2013 at 11:29 AM

    so adorable when they are sleeping.

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  20. AnonymousApril 2, 2013 at 12:33 PM

    Wonderful set of images.

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  21. CarlettaApril 2, 2013 at 12:40 PM

    Excellent captures!

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  22. Coloring Outside the LinesApril 2, 2013 at 12:57 PM

    Awesome shots!

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  23. Naperville NowApril 2, 2013 at 1:01 PM

    darling shot -- and bless anything that takes care of mice.

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  24. LONDONLULUApril 2, 2013 at 2:05 PM

    Aw, I love the sleepy one! It's amazing you've been able to capture as many birds as you do, never mind the elusive (to me:) owl!

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  25. HansHBApril 2, 2013 at 2:13 PM

    Awesome photos!

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  26. SnowcatcherApril 2, 2013 at 2:19 PM

    I've never seen one in the wild, so now I'm going to have to keep my eyes more pealed! I'm always game for a bird who poses for the camera...

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  27. MalyssApril 2, 2013 at 2:43 PM

    So lovely! Very good catch!

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  28. Suburban GirlApril 2, 2013 at 3:02 PM

    Such a special sighting!

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  29. Ruth HiebertApril 2, 2013 at 3:06 PM

    These are wonderful pictures. This owl is cute.

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  30. RedPatApril 2, 2013 at 3:29 PM

    I've never seen one but they always look so cute in photos. Your pics are great EG!

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  31. eileeninmdApril 2, 2013 at 3:31 PM

    Oh, lucky you! The Saw-Whet is a cute owl! Great shots.

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  32. mickApril 2, 2013 at 3:56 PM

    Great photos of the owl - I like the contrast with the eyes open and then closed.

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  33. CatherineApril 2, 2013 at 4:59 PM

    The saw-whet owl is a gorgeous little creature, your closeups are really nice! I would love to see one someday...

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  34. GigaApril 2, 2013 at 5:47 PM

    Sowa jest cudna, a jej zdjęcia wspaniałe. Pozdrawiam serdecznie.
    Owl is a marvelous and wonderful pictures of her. Yours sincerely.

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  35. Kenneth Cole SchneiderApril 2, 2013 at 6:28 PM

    Nice find and wonderful photos! They can really be difficult to locate, in my experience.

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  36. StephanieApril 2, 2013 at 7:41 PM

    Magnificent!

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  37. GeorgeApril 2, 2013 at 8:20 PM

    Wow! These are fantastic portraits of the owl. Your first photo is especially marvelous.

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  38. Sallie (FullTime-Life)April 2, 2013 at 8:51 PM

    They're so cute! Look like a toy.

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  39. RandyApril 2, 2013 at 10:41 PM

    Beautiful markings.

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  40. Gillian OlsonApril 3, 2013 at 12:46 AM

    Amazing captures, I have never seem one before, a real treat.

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  41. Krishna/കൃഷ്ണApril 3, 2013 at 1:26 AM

    Great snap.. Nice bird

    thanks

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  42. RajeshApril 3, 2013 at 3:43 AM

    Fantastic shots of owl.

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  43. ♥ Łucja-Maria ♥April 3, 2013 at 8:01 AM

    Hello!
    I come to you from Giga.
    Great blog.
    Beautiful pictures.
    I am delighted.
    A photo owls are excellent.
    I send greetings from distant Polish.
    Lucia

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  44. Beyond the Dog DishApril 3, 2013 at 9:14 AM

    You were lucky to get so close or fancy a great zoom :) I find owl eyes spooky and interesting all at once. One mouse for 2 meals seems like a small bit of food considering his size. I will tell the dogs here they must be over fed!

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  45. Small City ScenesApril 3, 2013 at 11:51 AM

    You take the best pictures of Owls. This little guy is very cute. Not what an Owl wants to here. LOL MB

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  46. AnonymousApril 3, 2013 at 11:53 AM

    A beautiful bird, beautifully captured!

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  47. Brian KingApril 3, 2013 at 11:55 AM

    What beautiful shots!

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  48. Wally JonesApril 3, 2013 at 5:43 PM

    Wonderful post on a beautiful owl! I hope to see one someday!

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  49. Susan AndersonApril 3, 2013 at 8:45 PM

    Owls are cool.

    =)

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  50. Nature in the BurbsApril 3, 2013 at 8:48 PM

    Beautiful capture!

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  51. KayApril 4, 2013 at 1:09 AM

    This is such a glorious shot it doesn't seem real! "Spectacular!" barely begins to cover it. Makes my day!

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  52. Stewart MApril 4, 2013 at 2:16 AM

    Wonderful little owl - owls are always great to watch.

    Cheers and thanks for linking to WBW- Stewart M - Melbourne

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  53. Cezar and LéiaApril 4, 2013 at 5:07 AM

    Owls have such cute faces!
    God bless you!
    Cezar

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  54. isabella kramer - vereditApril 4, 2013 at 5:07 AM

    WOW !!! Great shots with a marvelous background !!

    xoxo veredit

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  55. Mary Howell CromerApril 4, 2013 at 1:02 PM

    Oh What a CUTIE!

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  56. Mary Howell CromerApril 4, 2013 at 1:22 PM

    What a darling Owl!

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  57. AnonymousApril 4, 2013 at 4:45 PM

    wonderful capture! I just love owls and it's such a treat to find them in mid-day!

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  58. RoseApril 4, 2013 at 6:45 PM

    He is so adorable!

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