The Owl had caught a Meadow Vole and was sitting on this post with it.
He started to eat the Vole...
He kept looking above me, so Iooked to see what he was looking at and couldn't see anything. All of a sudden he leaves his half eaten Vole and nails a Mourning Dove in the tree right in front of us. He tried to fly, but since the Dove is half his body weight, they both tumbled to the ground. This is him mantling the Dove. (I couldn't get the hit or falling as the trees were too thick) I have photographed 5 different Hawk Owls over the years and never have seen one take a bird, let alone a Dove! This guy is a great hunter. Other's have seen him take Doves and Sparrows.
It almost looks like the Dove has accepted its fate?
He then tried to fly again with the Dove, but didn't get far.
He made it up to this branch, which was about 3 feet off the ground.
He then retreated to a cattail. I left after this to leave him to his prize.
Those are some intense images, Jody, especially when the owl went to kill. Well, that's what nature is all about, right? I also enjoy the last image with clean background. YGMV!
