Northern Pygmy Owl - # 2
ISO 400, f/8, 1/125 sec, Canon 400mm DO IS lens + 1.4X extender, handheld. When this bird showed up in my backyard, I first shot handheld with my small (relatively speaking) bird rig. When it stayed put for those shots, I grabbed a tripod and a better setup that could not be handheld. This is a tiny owl, measuring a bit less than 7" in length - smaller than a robin! It is, however, extremely aggressive - known to go after prey that is approaching its own size.
Uploaded on September 23, 2008