I was not very far from this tree trying to shoot a Forest Wagtail. This, largest of the Scops owls, appeared nothing more than a dead leaf until I snapped a twig beneath my feet.
I just could not believe that it was sitting there all the time looking other way. Easily one of the most exhilarating moments I've had in recent times. It was evening. The light was fading fast. I took few pictures pumping up my ISO to the maximum value. I stayed there watching it closely. In the twilight it became lively, scanned the forest floor for a while and flew away with out making the slightest sound.
Owls are specially designed raptors. They have exceptional eyesight and accute hearing enhanced by the facial discs formed by the feathers, which collect and direct the faintest sounds. Lightly loaded broad short wings enabling it to navigate through the forest very slowly while serrations on the leading edges of its flight feathers muffle its wing beats. Generally colour of the eyes indicates its behaviour.
Dark Eyes = Night (Nocturnal)
Orange Eyes = Dawn & Dusk (Crepuscular)
Yellow Eyes = Day (Diurnal)
No comments:
Post a Comment