The Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua) is Australia's largest owl with a weight of up to 2.2 kg and a wing span of of almost 1.5m. It's a big and impressive bird! The feed on possums, bats and other birds and can be sometimes be found roosting with the remains of the nights hunting in their claws (although I have not seen that in the flesh yet!)
This bird is one of a well known pair in the northern part of Melbourne, and for once I was able to find it when I visited the site. I'm not as close to the bird as the picture look - it was at the top of a high tree and I used a long lens!
As is often the case for me, the bird took delight in hiding behind a small twig which rather obscures the view - but I still like the pictures. I was going to go and have a look for the birds again today, but that part of Melbourne is having a bit of a C19 spike - so I stayed away!
This bird is one of a well known pair in the northern part of Melbourne, and for once I was able to find it when I visited the site. I'm not as close to the bird as the picture look - it was at the top of a high tree and I used a long lens!
As is often the case for me, the bird took delight in hiding behind a small twig which rather obscures the view - but I still like the pictures. I was going to go and have a look for the birds again today, but that part of Melbourne is having a bit of a C19 spike - so I stayed away!
As ever you can join in with WBW by clicking on the link below - and also as ever, please feel free to share WBW with other bloggers. SM
It is indeed a powerful owl, Stewart. I have only ever seen one of them, in the Sydney area of NSW, and since it was starting to get dark, and the bird was high in a tree with intervening vegetation, there are no pictures of the encounter. Let us both cross all of our appendages that are crossable, and hope that Covid-19 has relented by next July, and perhaps we can find one together with a flying fox in its talons. I'll buy the wine to toast our success!
ReplyDeleteWhat a massive body he seems to have!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Have a nice week!
That is a gorgeous owl! Love the beautiful feather pattern!
ReplyDeleteThough I watch for them, I have never seen an owl in the wild. This one is a beauty!
ReplyDeleteWhat a handsome owl! Twigs and branches often show up in my photos as well.
ReplyDeleteThe owl is well-named. Before I took up photography I never gave a thought as to how much of the bird I saw at any one time. Often was impatient when photographers held up the group or fell behind. Now I am the offender! I understand.
ReplyDeleteHi Stewart. It's difficult to get to full impression of size but it's clearly big. Not something to tangle with.
ReplyDeleteHari Om
ReplyDeleteIt's a beauty alright - and really quite the poser! YAM xx
Great to see. Thanks 👍
ReplyDeleteYes a very impressive Owl Stewart. Thanks for hosting and have a stay week ahead
ReplyDeleteBeautiful bird!
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday
What a beautiful, impressing owl!
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting!
Just having a chance to see such an impressive bird would make my day, Stewart!
ReplyDeleteNice work capturing a few images. I am all too familiar with that "peek-a-boo" behavior! And it seems the more uncommon the bird, the more common the behavior!
Thank you for continuing to share the birds of the world.
Hello steward
ReplyDeletewow that's what i call a photo series worth seeing, beautiful face with the owl, i like it very much
stay careful and healthy
Regards Frank
P.S. a translation program would be helpful for me, thanks
It does look powerful! Thanks for hosting.
ReplyDeleteWow I love these photos, the branch actually adds to the charm. My nephew lives in Melbourne and he says it is not a good place to be at present!! Stay safe, Diane
ReplyDeleteHi Stewart, such a big owl. You are lucky you can see them. I love owls. Greetings Caroline
ReplyDeleteWow - amazing!
ReplyDelete