Powerful Owl

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choosypix
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Powerful Owl

We are fortunate that a Powerful Owl watcher pointed out one to us, near the Georges River.

It was quite difficult to get reasonable photos in near pitch-darkness however we managed to  spot it during the day, high in a eucalypt, holding a Ringtailed Possum.

We are told it is a solitary male...there has been a female about for the past year but, alas,

no confirmed sightings for 5 weeks.

If anything eventuates, we will post more images.

Cheers,

Antonia

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Very nice - I can imagine how difficult it would be to get a photo of this bird.

Araminta
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That is devine. How lucky are you? I often hear the one around our house , but have never seen itcrying

Well done Antoniayes

M-L

rawshorty
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I so want to see one. Great focus on the eyes through all those branches and leaves. Thanks for posting

Shorty......Canon gear

Canberra

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/ 

choosypix
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Many thanks indeed, Nathan, Araminta and Rawshorty.

We are lucky that a passionate Powerful Owl watcher was good enough to show us where to look.

Surprisingly, it is in a place close to homes and where scores of people walk (almost) below it, unknowingly,

everyday.

It was in a better position today so we were able to get a cleaner image.

Cheers and thanks,

Antonia

dwatsonbb
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Beautiful, I thought you were lucky with the 1st, but the 2nd is just mind blowing, to see this creature in the light, would bring a smile to anyone's eyes. Thanks for sharing.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

choosypix
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Thank you, Dale.

I can't stress how fortunate we were to have it pointed out to us...we would never have noticed on our own.

Our guide explained how they sit quietly on one branch all day, grasping the previous night's prey and at sundown they become active once more and begin eating the spoils.

It was just a matter of patiently scanning all of the trees around with binoculars to find it. Once located it is fairly straightforward to photograph as it doesn't move. You simply need a long lens and a bit of luck with positioning.

We made a short video earlier this evening...a bit out of our expertise.

If we can edit it into something sensible, I will post here or on Youtube.

It is quite thrilling to observe and record such a unique creature.

Cheers and thanks,

Antonia

choosypix
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Same branch, same bird...different day, different dinner.

Can anyone help with identifying this Powerful Owl's snack?

Cheers,

Antonia

choosypix
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Well, the Powerful Owl has had nothing in its grasp (during the day) for the the past two days...

but today has a Rainbow Lorikeet.

I wonder if there are no possums about or just a change of diet?

Antonia

Elsie
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What a beautiful bird! Great photos!

choosypix
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Thank you, Elsie.

dna1972
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HI Antonia

Your owl's snack may well be a small marsupial, or other kind of mammal. It is hard to say to be certain. These owls will eat arboareal mammals like Greater, Sugar, Yellow-bellied and other Gliders, smaller Common Brushtail Possum, Common Ringtail Possum. Birds such as roosting parrots, ravens, choughs, magpies you name it. Even smaller birds are fair game. In fact, while many raptors take prey quite small compared to their own body size, POs can take animals that weigh almost as much as the birds themselves, which really is an incredible feat in the world of predatory birds.

You should contact David Bain at Birdlife who is the Sydney Powerful Owl Project coordinator. The owl does indeed look like a male and he would likely be feeding young at nest at this time of the year. Hence why I suggest you contact Dave. PM me for his details if you get stuck.

The pair I am studying in the lower Blue Mountains have chicks and at 3:15 or so you can just see a small chick in the hollow. The adults are now at the stage of encouraging the chicks to come out of the depths of their nest. The quality is not great on youtube, but I have proper HD footage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zK6_x1-Tkw

choosypix
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Thanks for sharing your video. The quality is fantastic.

Our male is a bird known to David. It had a partner and young last year but the partner hasn't been seen for about six weeks.

Its nest is now occupied by cockatoos, so it seems no young this year, sadly.

Many thanks,

Antonia

choosypix
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Just an update on the owls at the first site for those who might be interested...

After being 'missing in action' for many weeks, the female reappeared at the site and, not too long afterwards, a single chick also showed its (very welcome) face.

For the past few weeks the chick has spent its days roosting in the top of a figtree, no doubt to shelter from the swooping noisy miners and magpies.

However, it has lately started to join its parents sitting in the tops of the eucalypts 24 hours a day.

On Saturday, just on dark, we saw the male struggling with and eventually overpowering a largish Brushtail.

He then flew to a dead branch nearby and the whole family feasted on the poor possum.

(Excuse the photo quality as we had only brought a handheld camera with a shortish lens)

Cheers,

Antonia

dna1972
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Naughty, naughty. Never take a short lens for bird photography! Always take the longest you got.

Great news and pix. smiley

GeorgeP
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Thanks for the update. Such a beautiful species to have in the neigbourhood.

Cheers,

George
Melbourne, VIC

Annie W
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Fantastic news!!  Beautiful little family they are too yes

West Coast Tasmania

choosypix
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Thank you, GeorgeP and RubyE.

Hi Akos.  Thank you also for your comments... LOL.

We were simply taking the dogs for a walk and were lucky to have a camera at all.

Never dreamed we would witness a life and death struggle between a possum and owl before it was properly dark.

Thanks again to all,

Antonia

laza
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Fabulous, thanks so much for sharing such brilliant photos

Dont take life too seriously, it never ends well

laza
laza's picture

Fabulous, thanks so much for sharing such brilliant photos

Dont take life too seriously, it never ends well

choosypix
choosypix's picture

Thank you, laza.

Cheers,

Antonia

dna1972
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Antonia, most times I walk my dogs out near Castlereagh I have my 1D/500mm combo hanging off my left shoulder. yes

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