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Post by ed on Nov 26, 2013 15:30:37 GMT -8
A Great Gray Owl was seen on Elk Mountain. I saw it in flight just as I came over a hump in the trail. I probably flushed it from a perch and then saw it just as it landed about 30' off ground in a W Hemlock. It was seen at about 3000' in old growth forest. This was about my 70th hike on Elk Mtn and I always considered it unlucky to have never seen a Barred Owl up there, although I've seen several Northern Pygmy Owls on Elk. Then a Great Gray Owl shows up...go figure! Pic to follow.
Ed Klassen
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Post by kestrel on Nov 26, 2013 16:52:04 GMT -8
Ed that's awesome. Fantastic find!
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Post by Randy on Nov 26, 2013 17:35:39 GMT -8
Great sighting! I'm very jealous! Where's Elk mountain?
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Post by butterfly on Nov 26, 2013 18:19:23 GMT -8
Awesome find, would love to see one of those! Bruce & Joanne
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Post by kevinhhood on Nov 26, 2013 19:08:51 GMT -8
Ed:
Can you provide some directions to the general area (where to drive, where to park). I was planning on come up to the Chilliwack area on Thursday and hit some spots with Ken and some of his bird/photography class. Perhaps I can convince him/them to do a mountain run as well.
Kevin
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Post by ed on Nov 26, 2013 23:13:47 GMT -8
Elk Mtn is an uber popular hike above Ryder Lake area South of Chilliwack. Elk Mountain divides the main Fraser valley from the Chilliwack river valley. It is about a 2 hour hike, and becomes a steep icy trail at this time of the year when fresh snow hasn't fallen for a while and proper equipment is needed. The Owl was seen about half way up the mountain in deep forest.    |
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Post by Gord on Nov 27, 2013 14:39:47 GMT -8
Great find and excellent shots. It's been a couple years since we've had this magnificent bird in our area.
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Post by Chris on Nov 27, 2013 15:23:04 GMT -8
Awesome sighting and photos Ed! Made the long hike worthwhile.
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Post by butterfly on Nov 27, 2013 16:18:44 GMT -8
Awesome photos Ed!! Bruce & Joanne
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Post by oldfulica on Nov 27, 2013 16:26:21 GMT -8
Beauty Ed.
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Post by murraybrown on Nov 28, 2013 11:57:07 GMT -8
Ed, that's a great bird for the Fraser Valley. Nice going!
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Post by ian on Nov 29, 2013 9:32:31 GMT -8
We'll make a photographer out of you yet Ed!
Super find and great captures!
I was directed to a location in the Okanagan for Great Grey this Spring that didn't require taking along an oxygen tank,
but I came up empty... maybe next Spring I will have your good fortune!
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Post by 10aciousfaith on Nov 30, 2013 11:53:34 GMT -8
The GGOW is definitely on my wish list. It must have been a magical and eerie kind of experience!
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Post by ed on Dec 1, 2013 13:41:42 GMT -8
Thanks all for the comments. The pictures are ok considering the light but not good. Here I have to confess... I found the GGOW so far outside of my expectations especially locally in mature timber that at first I thought I was seeing a Barred Owl  . Something didn't sit right but I had spent more energy on getting a picture that I didn't devote proper attention to observation through my binocs. I carried on up to the top of the Mountain, came home, even reported A Barred Owl and Grey Jay on the November list. Then I downloaded the Pics and realized the amateurish oversight, but also the excitement of the GGOW. Ed Klassen |
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Post by oldfulica on Dec 1, 2013 16:28:27 GMT -8
Thanks all for the comments. The pictures are ok considering the light but not good. Here I have to confess... I found the GGOW so far outside of my expectations especially locally in mature timber that at first I thought I was seeing a Barred Owl . Something didn't sit right but I had spent more energy on getting a picture that I didn't devote proper attention to observation through my binocs. I carried on up to the top of the Mountain, came home, even reported A Barred Owl and Grey Jay on the November list. Then I downloaded the Pics and realized the amateurish oversight, but also the excitement of the GGOW. Ed Klassen I know how you feel Ed. A couple of years ago I was fully engrossed photographing a Pectoral Sandpiper at Harrison. When I got home and put it on the computer I realized I had photographed the only recorded sighting of a Stilt Sandpiper in the Fraser Valley since 1899. Like you, if I had paid more attention to the bird instead of getting a picture I may have realized what it was. Then again, the camera bailed me out. |
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. Something didn't sit right but I had spent more energy on getting a picture that I didn't devote proper attention to observation through my binocs. I carried on up to the top of the Mountain, came home, even reported A Barred Owl and Grey Jay on the November list. Then I downloaded the Pics and realized the amateurish oversight, but also the excitement of the GGOW.