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Ural Owl


Ural Owl
Photo Information
Copyright: Philip Erche (netfalls) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1752 W: 153 N: 2457] (9276)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-01-13
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 300D, Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 II, Digital RAW 400, B+W Skylight 52E
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/50 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Predaceous birds - Aves predadoras, 50 points or more - 50 puntos o más, Owls all over the world, Great Portraits [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-01-14 3:27
Viewed: 1518
Points: 54
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Ural Owl (Strix uralensis ) is a medium-large nocturnal owl of the genus Strix, with up to 15 subspecies found in Europe and northern Asia.

The Ural Owl is smaller than the Great Grey Owl, and much larger than the Tawny Owl, which it superficially resembles. Distinguishing features apart from the size are the pale, buffish grey-brown Plumage, with copious dark brown streaking on the back, back of the head and underparts. It has a round head with plain buffish-grey facial discs, orange-yellow bill and small black eyes. The tail is long and wedge-shaped, with dark barring on the uppertail, and the wings are rounded. Flight is direct and purposeful, recalling that of the Common Buzzard. Sexes are similar, with no seasonal variation. Size: 50-59 cm; Wingspan: Male 115 cm, female 125 cm; Weight: Male 540-730 g, female 720-1200 g.

The Ural Owl has an extended distribution area in Europe and Asia, from Sakhalin, Japan and Korea in the east to Scandinavia in the west. The northern border is at approximately 65 degrees north latitude, and the southern border follows the southern delimitation of the taiga. There are relict populations in the mountains of central Europe belonging to the subspecies S.u.macroura. Birds in northeast Poland and Scandinavia belong to the subspecies S.u.liturata, and those in western Siberia to the nominate race S.u. uralensis.

The northern populations of the Ural Owl occupy similar habitat to the Great Grey Owl, nesting in lowland forests but avoiding dense areas, especially those of purely conifers. In central Europe it is an upland species, preferring deciduous woodland. It usually occupies open woodland and is more often found in moist rather than dry areas. It nests in hollow tree trunks, occasionally in old raptor nests, and increasingly in nestboxes. It normally lays two to four eggs, which hatch after 27-34 days. The young leave the nest after about four weeks, but will not fly until about six weeks old. It is a very aggressive owl, chasing other birds of prey from its territory, and it will attack human intruders, especially when young are present.

The Ural Owl feeds on rodents and medium-sized to large birds such as Jays and Willow Grouse, although normally only up to the size of a Woodpigeon. Its territorial call, which can carry up to two kilometres, is a soft, deep 'wo-ho….. woho uhwo-ho'. Birds also give unmistakable yapping ' wau - wau ' calls, which are delivered by both sexes.
Wikipedia

Technical data
Time of day: 11:14AM
Weather conditions: Clear
Body: Canon 300D
Lens: Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 II Super Macro
Shutter Speed: 1/50
F-Stop: f/9.0
Focal length: 300mm
Film: 400 ISO
Original file size: 3072 X 2048
Original file type: Digital Raw
Camera mode: Manual
White balance: Auto
Color space: AdobeRGB
Slash: Cullmann 20 AF DIGITAL Fired
red45, Janice, papkin, christophe, willie, woodyew, JeanMichel, Signal-Womb, rlortie, Nico, Callie, isaperez, ellis49, deud, TAZ has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To windancer: Getting close?netfalls 1 01-16 07:35
To Nico: cropped a little tight?netfalls 1 01-15 06:33
To christophe: without tripodnetfalls 1 01-14 12:51
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Critiques [Translate]

Very striking shot, detail in the feathers is good, though focus on the critical eye area is borderline, with the back part of the eye just starting to drift out of focus. Still a good shot.

Very nice shot.. The background compliments the picture perfectly.. I like the way he holds his head a bit scew, like he is saying "What do you want?"

well done

Wonderful make-up :-) She should spend many times to do it so perfectly :-)

Very interesting photo, just perfect colours.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2828 W: 75 N: 8009] (26813)
  • [2005-01-14 4:51]

Excellent sharpness, details, composition and DOF. I like its eyes.

  • Great 
  • sanora (0)
  • [2005-01-14 4:54]

Great details.
Just perfect.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3446 W: 144 N: 5883] (17434)
  • [2005-01-14 4:56]

Not a feather out of place - such a neat and tidy owl. Excellent all round Philip.
Most of these owls are photographed in daytime - I thought owls are only up at nighttime??
Well done.

  • Great 
  • NINIX Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 164 W: 48 N: 328] (2768)
  • [2005-01-14 5:33]

Ha Philip,

What a picture! It looks as if he had a hard night. Did you wake him up?

Very good,
TFP

Hendrik

Very good portrait, perfect colours.

Hi Philip.
Next fantastic photo.

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 614 W: 11 N: 623] (3316)
  • [2005-01-14 8:31]

Excellent shot,in al aspects10/10 .For a change Owl eyes looks sober :)Very nice shot.

Excellent cleanness especially without tripod (1/50)
Very very great shot Philip
In a friendly way Christophe

  • Great 
  • AmiBe (68)
  • [2005-01-14 13:15]

What a regard ! Perfect shot ! Felicitation, not easy without tripod...

  • Great 
  • willie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1023 W: 61 N: 648] (2083)
  • [2005-01-14 14:45]

Stunning Philip. No nits. Just your usual great stuff. Well done

Philip, a very sharp and well composed photograph. Colours are excellent. So lifelike though a little sleepy looking. Well done, Paul.

Another wonderful image of that amazing face. Super.

Stunning picture! DOF, BG and POV are perfect. Very good work Philip.

  • Great 
  • Nico Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 209 W: 1 N: 332] (1313)
  • [2005-01-15 6:09]
  • [+]

Good quality and clour. Is he over fed or just dressed for winter? Would have liked to see more of the guy, matybe cropped a little tight?

Hi Philip
Another beautiful owl. I love these guys. Nice compo here, and details.
This one is not on par with your normal standard, the DOF fades away quickly, but it does not really deter, since the eyes holds the viewer.

  • Great 
  • Mluc Silver Star Critiquer [C: 11 W: 0 N: 0] (16)
  • [2005-01-15 10:00]

Tres tres beau portrait, tres bon!

Beautiful compo.I like his sleepy look...:)

Beautiful, how did you manage to get so close?

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2005-01-16 0:32]

This is stunning Philip. The sharpness and composition here is perfect.

Well done and thanks for posting

Great Philip.
Very good details, colours and composition.
Very well done.
TFS.

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 500 W: 2 N: 466] (2123)
  • [2005-01-18 2:07]

wonderful shot. i love her eyes!

She hipnotize me! Amazing photo. And very deep note. Good work. Excelent DOF with such long focal.

You are the Owl master Philip, all of your shots are great.
Once more very well done!

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2385 W: 50 N: 3184] (10918)
  • [2005-05-07 3:51]

Trčs beau et intéressant portrait pour cette chouette. Jolies couleurs et bonne profondeur de champ.
Very Well Done !

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