Birds of Prey
This year I have had the opportunity to photograph so many different raptors such as Owls, Bald Eagles, Osprey and Hawks, I decided that they deserved their own category.
Pictured - Juvenile Barred Owl
A mother Great Horned Owl and her two babies are snuggled into their nesting cavity.
One of the babies branched out into a tree over a river. Probably not the best choice
After one baby left the nest, it left a lot more room for the remaining baby.
The male Great Horned Owl kept a watchful eye from across the river. He also was sitting on a rabbit that he caught.
Autumn is one of my favorite seasons. It's even better when I find some of my favorite birds, like this Barred Owl to photograph.
I hadn't seen the Barred Owl in the park since the spring. It was so nice to start seeing them again.
I looked between the branches of a Sycamore tree to capture this photo of a Bald Eagle overlooking Eagle Creek Reservoir.
Luckily when I moved around the tree for a better shot, the Bald Eagle decided to stay at his post. He was watching the various waterfowl and considering his breakfast options.
An Osprey looks directly at me with his intense eyes. I found him next to the kayak dock where I was going in after 3 hours of paddling and photographing birds.
Osprey giving a his wings a big stretch shortly after waking up.
On one of my early morning outings I captured a few photos of this Osprey as he was preparing to fly.
And captured a photo of him just as he leapt from the branch.
I had the privilege of watching two baby Barred Owls as they fledged from their tree one at a time. Getting to the edge of the cavity was a struggle.
After a few days, this owlet was seen doing few pre-fledge stretches.
Eventually this owlet found its courage and started climbing up the side of the tree to get to another branch at the back of the tree.
While watching owl 2, we spotted owl 1 above our heads walking across branches to get to its parent.
Great Horned Owl in Central Park, Carmel, Indiana.
Great Horned Owlets in Eagle Creek Park, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Barred Owl perched in the tree believed to be where the nest will be.
Barred Owl preening in the evening light.
A sleepy Barred Owl beautifully blends into a Sycamore tree.
The Barred Owl gives a big yawn as she wakes up from her nap.
Autumn is such a beautiful time in the woods. It was made even more special when I spotted this Barred Owl.
The owl moved after a few photos but I was able to locate him again a short distance away.
I spotted this beautiful Red Tailed Hawk at sunrise.
Red Tailed Hawk at sunrise overlooking the lake.
On a walk near Eagle Creek Reservoir, I happened to glance up and spotted this beautiful Barred Owl perched on a dead tree.
The owl was kind enough to show me what nice claws it had.
This photo was about being at the right place at the right time. I was driving through a park and caught the silhouette of an owl out of the corner of my eye. It was a Barred Owl!
I pulled over the car and photographed it for about 5 minutes while runners and bikers zoomed right past it. I loved how the dabbled sunlight came through the trees and lit it up just right.
While returning from my morning walk, a Coopers Hawk flew in front of me and landed in a tree in my yard with its breakfast.
A few minutes later a second Coopers Hawk flew up from below.
The new arrival quickly approached the hawk with the breakfast.
The first hawk quickly left leaving the second one with the breakfast.
I recently had an amazing opportunity to observe and photography a group of Short Eared Owls as they were hunting for their dinner in the evening.
This Short Eared Owl was coming straight at me.
The Short Eared Owl flew low over the field ready to grab its pray. Those feet may look cute, but there are talons hidden in there.
A Short Earned Owl diving to the field.
A pair of Bald Eagles perched on an old dead tree near my neighborhood.
The Bald Eagles shifting positions on the tree.
A juvenile Bald Eagle flying over Eagle Creek Reservoir.
A pair of juvenile Bald Eagles flying over Eagle Creek Reservoir.
Osprey
On a recent trip to Jekyll Island, Georgia I spotted this Osprey on a tree near by enjoying a fish.
Osprey
One day while walking along the lake in January, I spotted an unusual hawk chasing around a Kingfisher. By the time I was in position to take a photo the Kingfisher had left and the hawk was perched on a dead tree branch.
After doing some research I learned that this is a Merlin. It does not stay in my area by was only passing through on its Migration.
