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A Giant.....


A Giant.....
Photo Information
Copyright: Paul van Slooten (pvs) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1168 W: 261 N: 3035] (13835)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-10-22
Categories: Birds
Camera: Sony Alfa dSLR A700, Sony 300mm F2.8 G, Digital RAW 800
Exposure: f/2.8, 1/400 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Krugerpark October 2008
Date Submitted: 2008-11-13 3:47
Viewed: 894
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
On our morning drive from the shingwedzi camp we decided to drive North,after a few hours with some great sightings we arrived at the babalala picnic spot,time for a toilet and for a drink,we were informed that a Giant Eagle Owl was resting in the tree,I made quite a few attempts to capture this owl,but it was a tricky one to expose as he sat in the shade of the leaves,but as the sun was as well already high above the sky there was as well quite some direct sunlight visible,anyway with some of the captures I was content like for example this one,hope you like it as well,thanks for your time and visit.

Appearance

The Giant Eagle Owl is the largest owl in the world. As the biggest of all the Owls the Eagle owl is easily recognised by its huge size and wingspan. They are light grey in colour, finely bared blackish above and below but no heavy blotching. The face is pale, boldly outlined in black, eyes look black at a distance and they have distinctive pink eyelids, which makes them very identifiable. Very similar to a huge Long Eared owl. The Eagle Owl is a pale sand colour underneath with streaks of dark Brown or grey. Greyish head with a large powerful beak and large orange or yellow eyes and two ear tufts extending from over the eyes. They have huge powerful feet and talons.

Diet

It feeds largely on game birds such as Guinea fowl and small mammals like scrub hares are a favourite. They are usually seen at dawn or dusk and asides from their large size are easily recognised by their pink upper eyelids. They have a very varied diet recorded killing mammals the size of Vervet Monkeys and birds like Secretary birds, but they feed mainly on hedgehogs when available.
Breeding

They will breed from the months of March to September, two eggs are usually laid and both parents incubate for up to 39 days.
Behaviour

They are usually found alone or in pairs and mainly from Kwazulu-Natal Northwards. They will be found living in tree lining drainage lines and watercourses. Their call is a deep gruff hooting call hryu hryu hooo. They rarely hunt by day and roosts in larger trees, preferably in the shade.
Habitat

Woodland, savanna and tree lined watercourses.
Where they are found

They are found in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique and northern South Africa.
eng55, oscarromulus, sandpiper2, Jamesp, vanderschelden has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2008-11-13 4:03]

Hello This is a very nice shot and giving a thousand words for expression.
What i am amazed is the sharpness but with the result there is a noise in the picture. NO problems with that. Good shot. Ganesh

  • Great 
  • sayat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 290 W: 0 N: 258] (1457)
  • [2008-11-13 4:40]

Amazing shot of the mighty beauty! The exposure is just fine to me, despite the very strong light present. It is so nice to see some ripples in the eyes of the bird. Great shot indeed.

Great closeup! Good details and sharpness. A little more light on the eyes wud have been better, but owls don't usually sit exposed in broad sunlight. Thanks for sharing.

  • Great 
  • Dando Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 637 W: 32 N: 792] (3084)
  • [2008-11-13 9:03]

Hi Paul,

Nice portrait and capture. Good control over the shadows and the details are excellent. Well done and TFS.

Dean.

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1135 W: 32 N: 1150] (3542)
  • [2008-11-13 9:35]

Hi Paul,
Excellent capture.Well caught,framed and composed.
Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • iti Gold Star Critiquer [C: 88 W: 0 N: 7] (534)
  • [2008-11-13 9:36]

Hi Paul
Nice portrait of a beautiful owl,very good the eye's contact.Good background.
Regards Jiri.

Hello Paul,
AMAZING!!!
No need to say more.... just AMAZING!!!
Looks like this one is a "female"; "eye" lids painted up and all. Maybe she was going out on a date!!!
Mario with friendly greetings.

Hi Paul

The joys of photography, you can't always have the light the way you want it.
Nevertheless, this is a fine portrait of this impressive owl. The fine scalloping on the plumage is clearly visible. The flesh coloured eyelids are interesting. Great sharpness, TFS.

Chris

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2386 W: 94 N: 5517] (17564)
  • [2008-11-13 12:22]

Hallo Paul,
Ondanks de omstandigheden een schitterende foto. De scherpte is uitstekend en de uitdrukking in de ogen prachtig. Ik heb hem ook een paar maal gezien, maar altijd verborgen in dichte takken. Lucky you!
Groet,
Peter

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16522)
  • [2008-11-13 23:22]

Hello Paul

Excellent pose/pov - excellent detail too. Great stuff. Well seen and captured.

james

Weer een mooie hoor...
Niet gemakkelijk onder de bladeren qua belichting.
Dat in extremis Krugertje was een voltreffer..
Bedankt
Annick

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 856 W: 2 N: 617] (2142)
  • [2008-11-14 10:07]

Hoi Paul , Wat een mooie uil en hij kijkt zo lief en rustig , prachtige foto ,mooi licht kleur en bg , Groeten Teunie .

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