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Archive 2014 · Stalking Trash and Snowy Owls (The Story)

  
 
BNJarrett
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Stalking Trash and Snowy Owls (The Story)


I had received 4 different reports of people and friends seeing snowy owls in McLean County. McLean County is one of the larger counties in Illinois. These are people I trust, so I have been checking them out when time and daylight allows. Yesterday, I saw high resolution photos of the male owl, so I knew it was on. Almost a full 3 months earlier than I found them last year.

I blasted off this morning to find a 24-30 inch tall bird with 4 foot wingspan and weighing in around 3.5 pounds. Sounds like a needle in a hay stack, but yet I was able to find them last year.

Struck out this morning! Two hours of driving country roads sneaking up on anything white that looked out of place. I can tell you that McLean County has some serious trash problems.

My first stalk:



Ended up being a half buried ice cream bucket!

I have to believe people driving by must get a real chuckle out of a 240 LBS fat guy in full Carhartts doing the belly / sniper crawl across a muddy field with 15K of camera equipment cradled in his elbows.

Second stalk turned up to be a grocery bag. These guys flopping in the wind look really good from 1/2 mile!



Once you get close enough to put the lens on it, and find out it is trash, you just stand up, shake your head and walk back to the car.

Finally! I spotted one with my binocular! Only about 1/3 the way across a 1 mile square.



No stalk, the lady who shared location doesn’t want this bird to feel any pressure as he has been there 5 days now. We are trying to keep him off ebird.org since he is a rare male. I watched him from the car for 20 minutes. Then he few to a fence row in the middle of the square and landed on a post. This next shot was crazy long. I stacked my 1.4 and 2.0 teleconverters together and paired on my trusty 500mm bring effective range of 1400mm and f11 I think. Manual focus of course. I could not see this bird with my naked eye at this range. When I go back I am taking my golf range finder to measure the yardage. I would guess it to be over 600 yards. It was longer than most par fives I play.



I drove the square to see if I could get closer from other side. When I came back he was gone. I found him in the next square to the North and a pickup truck was watching him.



The guy got out of his car with his smart phone and started walking straight towards the bird.


I got one good shot before the guy got too close and forced him to fly. I had the camera set in full “bird in flight” mode knowing he was going to launch.



Knew it! Too much lens and clipped his wings, but you get a good view of feather covered feet and talons.



He few about 10 telephone post, so after I scolded the guy for getting out of his car, I rolled up to him again and got a couple more full frame shots. Not much background with the grey sky. Not a big fan of sitting pole shots, but hey, I found a Snowy Owl.



Watched him for another 10 minutes, and decided I would head home. I opened my sun roof and idled right under him. Needed a shorter lens. He was keeping a watchful eye on me. I told him goodbye and headed home.



Very cool birds. I love their eyes, and their feet! Hopefully this guy will hang around and I can spend more time with him in better light and maybe get some flight shots of him hunting.

Last years snowy owl post:

http://kentjarrett.com/snowy-owls/

http://kentjarrett.com/snowy-owls-of-lee-county-illinois/

Thanks for stopping by!
Kent



Dec 21, 2014 at 08:31 PM
sritri
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Stalking Trash and Snowy Owls (The Story)


Awesome find Kent


Dec 21, 2014 at 08:39 PM
KCollett
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Stalking Trash and Snowy Owls (The Story)


Good story Kent. And some good shots of both garbage and owl. Well done.


Dec 21, 2014 at 08:41 PM
BeeBalm
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Stalking Trash and Snowy Owls (The Story)


Kent,
I really enjoyed your long picture story
Well done
Hope you see him many more times!
BeeBalm



Dec 21, 2014 at 08:42 PM
morris
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Stalking Trash and Snowy Owls (The Story)


Hi Kent,

We have the same problems with white trash, white poles and even people wearing white jackets! Your story resonates with this fellow snowy owl lover. The beach I photograph them on is off limits to cars so we must hike on sand for hours and hope nobody sends it into the air.

You came home with a few fine photos and a great story.

Morris



Dec 21, 2014 at 08:57 PM
DonGut
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Stalking Trash and Snowy Owls (The Story)


That is a very nice bird. I hope he gives you more photo ops on better perches!
Don



Dec 21, 2014 at 09:04 PM
kmunroe
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Stalking Trash and Snowy Owls (The Story)


he's a beauty Kent


Dec 22, 2014 at 03:24 AM
Alan Dean
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Stalking Trash and Snowy Owls (The Story)


Congratulations on your images and also your note re keeping the specific location off the ebird listings. Some photogs don't know that these guys are generally stressed and sometimes starving. Tracking them down and trying to get too close can sometimes result in exhaustion from too many flights. Good luck on your next search. Alan


Dec 22, 2014 at 10:34 AM
ScottHM
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Stalking Trash and Snowy Owls (The Story)


At least you were able to get some shots and see them...came across two of my particular annoyances regarding wildlife and wilderness, how people treat them and the amount of trash you find in some areas.
In some of the places I'll go, back woods areas, forest service roads off forest service roads, you'll still find where people will dump their trash, broken bottles...even an odd burned out piece of furniture...drives me nuts. I'll carry a spare garbage bag or two and haul out what I can at times. You'd think the people who go to enjoy these areas would be a little more considerate.
Hope you get more opportunities to get some shots of them.



Dec 22, 2014 at 01:12 PM
surfnron
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Stalking Trash and Snowy Owls (The Story)


Congrats on finding him Kent.This set has some very nice shots. Since I have zero shots of Snowies, I'd be happy with shots of one sitting anywhere ~ Ron


Dec 22, 2014 at 03:59 PM
brimull
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Stalking Trash and Snowy Owls (The Story)


Very nice set along with the interesting narrative.

Brian M.



Dec 22, 2014 at 07:52 PM
mikedec
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Stalking Trash and Snowy Owls (The Story)


I've seen more than my share of white plastic bags while looking for them. Glad you were able to find one.


Dec 22, 2014 at 08:00 PM
Ted ellis
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Stalking Trash and Snowy Owls (The Story)


Great work Kent. I am looking forward to more.

Ted



Dec 22, 2014 at 08:49 PM
Herb Houghton
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Stalking Trash and Snowy Owls (The Story)


#3 for me, good luck this season


Dec 22, 2014 at 10:23 PM
birdied
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Stalking Trash and Snowy Owls (The Story)


Wonderful shots set to a great rendition of your day ! Hope you have plenty of opportunities to see him again.

Birdie



Dec 22, 2014 at 10:42 PM
BNJarrett
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Stalking Trash and Snowy Owls (The Story)


Merry Christmas! And thanks for all the nice comments!


Dec 25, 2014 at 09:40 PM
brian_sp
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Stalking Trash and Snowy Owls (The Story)


great find and story, i can empathize with your story of trash, i was in a state park yesterday and just don't understand people, they can carry in full styrofoam cups of coffee, plastic water bottles, but once empty they are too much to carry out to dispose of in a garbage can


Dec 25, 2014 at 09:53 PM
BNJarrett
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Stalking Trash and Snowy Owls (The Story)


brian_sp wrote:
great find and story, i can empathize with your story of trash, i was in a state park yesterday and just don't understand people, they can carry in full styrofoam cups of coffee, plastic water bottles, but once empty they are too much to carry out to dispose of in a garbage can


I really don't understand it either!



Dec 29, 2014 at 08:05 AM
Lilki
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Stalking Trash and Snowy Owls (The Story)


The story makes your photos all the richer. I love that last one!


Dec 29, 2014 at 01:56 PM
hulgar
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Stalking Trash and Snowy Owls (The Story)


Excellent photos and story. The empty white chemical jugs farmers like to put on steel posts have fooled me more than once.


Dec 29, 2014 at 09:58 PM
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