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Verreaux's Eagle Owl


Verreaux's Eagle Owl
Photo Information
Copyright: Anna Eksteen (Miss_Piggy) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2285 W: 5 N: 5300] (18714)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-10-15
Categories: Birds
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC H9, Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 15x Optical zoom, Digital ISO 400
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/30 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Kruger NP 2009
Date Submitted: 2013-06-19 9:38
Viewed: 4214
Points: 50
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Verreaux's Eagle Owl / Bubo lacteus

Today I share number 60 in the series of birds of the Kruger National Park, the Verreaux's Eagle Owl. It is also known as the Milky or Giant Eagle Owl.

I was fortunate to have been able to capture some owls in the Kruger as they are not spotted easily. This rather large owl is the 3rd type of owl I could share so far as part of this series. The other two were the Scops Owl and the Pearl Spotted Owlet.

This image was taken from my archives but the quality is not as good as I would like it to have been due to a few reasons. In 2009 I just started this hobby and was still very new to photography in general. This image was taken in broad daylight but the owl was hiding on a tree branch in the shade. Thus the lighting was poor. I had to push my head out of the car's window – capturing something from below is not always easy. But with all of these negativities that spoiled a good opportunity for a great photo I am still delighted to share this image of the Verreaux's Eagle Owl with you as part of this series.

Description
Very large, uniform grey eared owl, with dark eyes and bare pink eyelids. Light vermiculations above, and dense fine barring below.

Habitat
Dry savannah with scattered trees, riverine forest, semi-open woodland.

Food
Medium sized mammals including monkeys, hedgehogs, hyraxes; also larger birds, reptiles, frogs, invertebrates, fish and even carrion.

Breeding
Mainly breeds from March to September, nesting in old stick nests of other birds such as vultures, crows or Hammerkops. 2 eggs are laid, and are incubated for 38 days. It is normal for the second chick to disappear within the first 2 weeks. The remaining chick leaves the nest at about 9 weeks and can fly well within a couple of weeks. It can be independent by 6 months of age although many chicks remain with the parents for up to 2 years.

Threats
Not globally threatened. Widespread but locally rare.

Size
60-65cm, 1600-3115g

Call
Sequence of deep, nasal, grunts. Source

I hope you enjoyed looking at this photo as much as I took pleasure in taking it.
CeltickRanger, KOMSIS, Silvio2006, marius-secan, ramthakur, maaciejka, Alex99, iti, Adanac has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Anna

Excellent photo of this Verreaux's Eagle Owl
that is completely or almost completely
camouflaged with its environment ! TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • KOMSIS Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 821 W: 0 N: 2415] (10646)
  • [2013-06-19 9:46]

Hallo Anna,
I never have seen until now ..
in low light, soft colors, contrast, POV, composition and details are very good.
Best wishes,
Seyfi

Hello Anna,
Even light was your enemy,but you have captured this Eagle Owl well.In such difficult condition you have done great job.So credit goes to you.
Thanks for sharing,
Kind regards,
Srikumar

Ciao Anna, my today neighbour, great macro of fantastic Eagle Owl, lovely composition with beautiful ambientation on tree, wonderful natural colors, splendid sharpness and fine details, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5136 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2013-06-19 10:52]

Hello Anna,
Very nice photo for the difficult circumstances. Good sharpness and nice camouflaged colours. I've missed this beauty when I was there.
Regards,
Peter

Hello Anna,
Brilliant capture of a very interesting and nice species of bird. Excellent colors and good details despite the difficult condition of light. I like very much this nice specie witch I have never seen very before.
Thanks for sharing!
Marius.

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2013-06-19 12:19]

Hello Anna,
pose is excellent, great work. Very good sharpness, details, colours and composition. Regards Siggi

Hello Anna
第一次看到這種鳥
照的很新朝
背景深遂 構圖美麗
STONE

Though light conditions were less than ideal, you still managed a clean image of this Owl I have seen for the first time, Anna.
Thanks for sharing this valuable document image from your archives of 2009.
Warm regards.
Ram

Hello Anna,
what a nice owl. Excellent portrait. I like your presentation. Beautiful colours.
Thanks for sharing,
Maciek

Hello Anna.
Good photo for difficult light. Sometimes it is not the quality impotante but what is photography. The owls are always difficult.
Thanks.
Robert

Dear Anna,
In fact not one of your best pics but a great bird - thanks to present it to us.
best regards
Pierre

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2013-06-19 23:23]

Hi Anna.
Despite the bad light conditions you managed to picture an amazing specimen of the species. It is simply wonderful as well as the most impressive natural surroundings. As usual note is great too. Warm regards and TFS.
Alexei.

Hello Anna，
Beautiful photography of this owl.
You managed to take this photograph in a low light but nice color.
Thanks for sharing.

Arindam

  • Great 
  • iti Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 577 W: 0 N: 650] (7939)
  • [2013-06-20 0:46]

Hi Anna,
The difficult light but nice photo.
Good details and colours.
Regards Jiri.

really camouflaging species. it is unique in appearance. wonderful photography.

hallo Anna
very good details and good composition of this owl
greeting lou

Hello Anna
Good capture.
nice composition and colour.
regards,
samiran

Hallo Anna,
A very good job despite everything that was against you. At least you got that ever so sought after twinkle in the eye. Perfect POV my friend.
Best regards,
Carl
PS.
Greetings to Loot.

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6478 W: 89 N: 15610] (65301)
  • [2013-06-20 14:34]

Hi Anna,this isn't the best pic of your gallery talking about the quality but you work in a very difficult light,good details and colors and nice capture of this rare guest of the TN gallery.Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano

Ciao Anna. Almost impossibile light here! Great POV. Not easy make better.

Roberto

Hello Anna,
fine capture of this beautiful Owl with good sharpness and natural colours. You had quite a difficult light and did a great job with the exposure. Thanks for sharing this powerful Owl.
Best wishes,
Helmut

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1273 W: 1 N: 6188] (21378)
  • [2013-06-21 17:45]

Hello Anna,
This is a strange looking fellow, one I have not seen before. The big beak and pink eye lids are what catch my eye. Thanks for showing me a new species and adding such great notes.
Rick

Amazing bird Anna! Despite the difficult light a nice and interesting photo.
Regards,
Christodoulos

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2752 W: 280 N: 4931] (19883)
  • [2013-06-30 19:21]

Hello Anna,
As you already eluded to, the quality may not be top notch, but this is still a wonderful image of an owl that is brand new to me. It's plumage seems so furry looking and those pinkish eye lids are definitely unusual. Thank you for sharing such a unique birds with us.
Ron

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