Mr Owl

Sometimes, when I work late I find myself coming along dark country roads in the dead of night. Occasionally, on a particular stretch of road, every now and then I see in my headlights a light brown shape atop a post with big orange eyes blinking at me, then, in a flash I’ve passed them. I bid Mr Owl a fond farewell until next time I see him.

Today, I was driving to work, and it was about 0900 and I’m heading down the familiar stretch of country road when something catches my eye… I immediately put the image together with the very same perch described above; it’s Mr Owl, out in the daylight. So it’s taken about 30 seconds for all these facts to register and be absorbed into my Dinosaur-brain. I think for a few seconds more about whether to return to take a photo, since I always have my Camera and lenses with me. I turn around and head up the road towards Mr Owl.

Fully expecting him to be gone, imagine my surprise when he turns his head to watch me pass him, whilst I look for a place to pull over. I turn around and find a small dirt road about 50 yards from Mr Owl, I hook up my 300mm lens and start looking for the shot. To my disappointment he appears as a spec in my viewfinder even with my long lens. I take a shot and I decide to take a chance, I roll the car forward in the hope that Mr Owl doesn’t get frightened away.

I’m 20 yards from him now and I beleive I can get a respectable shot of him, so I snap a few more….. then I roll the car forward some more, to my surprise Mr Owl looks at me then continues to ignore me happilly going about his business. I get to within 20 feet of him with my window wound down, and he’s looking the wrong way. I try to make owl noises to attract his attention, but he couldn’t give two hoots about me…. so breaking all the rules of wildlife photography I start talking to the bird, and still he ignores me!

Eventually (when he was ready, despite my best efforts) he turned his head and allowed me to get several shots off, before I packed up my kit and went on my way. Mr Owl never ruffled a feather the whole time I was there.

Thanks to Mr Owl for brightening my week!