Forest flights in a snowstorm

Great gray owl hunting in a snowstorm - © Christopher Martin-4970

A snowstorm hit Bragg Creek last weekend quickly draping the area in white and pushing the temperature way down.  I caught sight of this owl along a familiar stretch of open forest divided by a gravel road.

Great gray owl hunting in a snowstorm - © Christopher Martin-4954

Great gray owl hunting in a snowstorm - © Christopher Martin-4968

Great gray owl hunting in a snowstorm - © Christopher Martin-4972

It was a steep challenge keeping sharp focus as she flew through the trees and with the heavy snowfall but I had a great hour or so watching her and trying to keep up.  I ended up with many in-focus tree, out-of-focus owl shots but when it worked out the other way around there were some interesting images.

Great gray owl hunting in a snowstorm - © Christopher Martin-4916

Great gray owl hunting in a snowstorm - © Christopher Martin-4914

Great gray owl hunting in a snowstorm - © Christopher Martin-5159

When I did return to my car, it did take a few minutes for my fingers to thaw – that’s always painful but quickly forgotten.

Great gray owl hunting in a snowstorm - © Christopher Martin-5244
She was very successful during the time I watched her.  Three field mice were the first courses for breakfast from five silent descents into the tall grass.  When time allows, I will share a few of those action shots in another photo story here.

20 responses

  1. Pingback: First Snowy owl of the season! | Christopher Martin Photography

  2. Beautiful

    December 11, 2016 at 10:38 am

  3. Pingback: A phantom hunting in the snow | Christopher Martin Photography

  4. Ray Matheson's avatar
    Ray Matheson

    THANK YOU CHRIS FOR ALL YOUR HARD AND COLD BRRRR EFFORTS TO BRING SUCH AMAZING AND BEAUTIFUL SCENES TO LIFE FOR US!!!! I ALWAYS LOVED OWLS. THERE WERE MANY IN THE AREA WHERE I GREW UP.

    December 9, 2016 at 1:44 pm

  5. I love owl .. wonderfull <3

    December 9, 2016 at 12:22 am

  6. I think you must have owl eyes to always find them out! (I was going to say ferret them out but I wondered if ferrets could even be killed by owls, a rather different idea!)

    December 8, 2016 at 6:07 pm

  7. Your owl shots are one of my favourite series.

    December 8, 2016 at 3:02 pm

  8. Wonderful photos!

    December 8, 2016 at 11:46 am

  9. Reblogged this on clawingmywayin and commented:
    Owl in a snow storm

    December 8, 2016 at 10:34 am

  10. Pingback: Forest flights in a snowstorm — Christopher Martin Photography – Mensch und KUltur

  11. BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL Like Always!

    December 8, 2016 at 8:52 am

  12. Really beautiful Shots!!
    Dwight

    December 8, 2016 at 8:46 am

    • Thank you Dwight – the owl did most of the hard work and I was lucky enough to watch.

      December 9, 2016 at 6:17 am

  13. exceptionally beautiful 🙂

    December 8, 2016 at 8:03 am

  14. Good eyes, Christopher. It’s tough to spot a bird like this in such conditions -let alone capture it on film. Congrats, and thanks for sharing.

    December 8, 2016 at 7:42 am

  15. WOW! so wonderful….can feel the flight.

    December 8, 2016 at 7:41 am

  16. bkcitta's avatar
    bkcitta

    Absolutely stunning!! Especially like the last photo in gallery set!! Thanks for sharing

    December 8, 2016 at 7:25 am

  17. Pingback: Forest flights in a snowstorm — Christopher Martin Photography – www.jgbsproducoes.com

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