Great Gray Owl hunting

Flickr problems, yet again!

Today, 15 March 2018, Calgary is under yet another Snowfall Warning, and it has been snowing all morning. Snowfall, with total amounts of 10 to 20 cm is expected. Heavy snowfall will continue over much of southern Alberta today. At this time of year, we tend to get snow, then it melts or starts to melt, then it snows again, and so on. Yesterday, I had to get across the city and was amazed that there was hardly any snow left in many places. I don't know how so much snow could just disappear like that, especially leaving no flooding.

I have added a previously posted photo in a comment box below. That photo was already taken at Focal Length (35mm format) - 1200 mm. Using a different camera, I was able to zoom in much more for the above photo, taken from exactly the same spot. So difficult/impossible to hold the camera steady, so I don't use it very often, but I was curious to see what kind of photo I could get. Not the sharpest, that's for sure, but I thought I would post it anyway, to show just how far away the owl was, even though it looks like I am standing very close to the bird.

Talk about a lucky weekend for Great Gray Owls - just what the doctor ordered! One individual seen on the Saturday and then two different individuals seen on Sunday, 11 March 2018.

On Sunday, I decided to follow a group of friends for the first part of their day's outing. The rest of their day was going to be a walk in an area that is treacherous in winter, as well as being a long hike. The very last thing I need at the moment is to break an arm or a leg - or anything. I am so glad I got up early and started the day with them, as we ended up seeing two separate Great Gray Owls.

The first owl (not this photo) was perched in a group of trees and then flew to a tree that was closer to us. It is always amazing to see such a large owl perched on a very thin branch/twig, showing that most of the bird is a mass of light-weight feathers.

The second owl, seen in this photo, was at first perched in a tree that had beautiful, dead leaves, adding a welcome splash of colour. The light was challenging, but at least it wasn't snowing. A few minutes later, it flew off and landed in a far-away evergreen tree (seen in this photo). Again, the light was a challenge, but I managed to rescue a few shots. After parting from my friends, I had to drive past this location again and was happy to see the second owl still in the same distant tree. I waited a little while, hoping it might fly and land closer, but it seemed perfectly happy staying exactly where it was.

I was just in time to get back to the city and join a different group of friends for a walk at Mallard Point in Fish Creek. Park. The birds we saw were too far away for any decent photos - but I didn't need any, after such an amazing owl morning. After the walk, we headed for Tim Horton's for late afternoon coffee and snack. Just being outdoors on such a lovely, sunny, comparatively mild day felt good.