Watching and waiting

An extremely cropped photo of this Northern Hawk Owl, who was perched way up in a very tall Aspen tree, NW of the city on March 21st. His beady little eyes were watching for the slightest movement from a Meadow Vole or Mouse on the ground.

The Northern Hawk Owl is a medium-sized owl, about 35 centimetres (14 inches) long. It is rare to uncommon in Alberta, year round. Apparently, it is one of Alberta's most sought-after birds by birders.

"The Northern Hawk Owl can detect prey by sight at a distance of up to 800 meters (half a mile).
Though it is thought to detect prey primarily by sight, the Northern Hawk Owl can find and seize prey under 30 cm (1 foot) of snow." From allaboutbirds.

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Hawk_Owl/id/ac

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Hawk-Owl