Owl Snake-n-Bite

[John_White]

Several weeks ago I found a Great Horned Owl chick in a nest. After a storm,
a couple of weeks ago the nest and chick were gone or so I thought. Found
the chick today in a tree only about 5 meters off the ground, some 50 meters
from the original nest. It appears healthy and from the amount of
white-wash on the ground the parents must still be providing food.

This first shot from a good distance away.


This second shot is from the face of a small cliff. The terrain is just
steep and rocky enough to make using a tripod very difficult.


Because of the windy conditions I tried to get a little closer to use a
smaller, more manageable lens. Unfortunately, this really disturbed the
chick so I took this last pic and backed away.


While walking up the rock face after taking pics of the owl, I found this
beautiful Northern Black Racer sunning among the rocks. I caught
the snake and moved it to a flat area where I could photograph it. The snake
only bit me once, but that's what I get for grabbing it.

P.S.: Yes, my hand was that ugly *before* the snake bite. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]



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[Constrictor_BO]

I dont think you need to worry much about the disturbed baby GH owl, It's the parents you have to watch out for. They can get pretty mean and aggressive protecting thier young.

And that snake must not have like the taste of you if it only bit once. lol

Great pics.
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[Stormyva]

Great pics once again!
If you ever get down to Back Bay or Seashore State Park give me a ring!
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[trinitywolf]

Nice pics John.
Wish I found time to get out like that more often. There's something very comforting about wilderness.
Thanks for sharing.
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[BWSmith]

Racer prolly just didnt care too much. From the look of his scarring, he has been through enough i dont think you really intimidated him [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]
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[Sunn]

Hey John,

What great pics......how nice to get out in the fresh air and truly enjoy nature. We all need to do it more. Hope your keeping all these great shots somewhere to show others ....the making of great stories to be told to young ones....

Sandy [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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[John_White]

Thanks!

Yes, I was concerned about parents. Only one bite...dang, had to check twice to make sure it was a racer!

John
>>I dont think you need to worry much about the disturbed baby GH owl, It's the parents you have to watch out for. They can get pretty mean and aggressive protecting thier young.
>>
>>And that snake must not have like the taste of you if it only bit once. lol
>>
>>Great pics.

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[John_White]

>>Great pics once again!
>>If you ever get down to Back Bay or Seashore State Park give me a ring!

Thanks!
I should make it down that way at least once or twice this year.

John
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[John_White]

>>Nice pics John.
>>Wish I found time to get out like that more often. There's something very comforting about wilderness.
>>Thanks for sharing.

Thanks!
I couldn't agree more, love being out in the woods!

John
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[John_White]

>>Racer prolly just didnt care too much. From the look of his scarring, he has been through enough i dont think you really intimidated him [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

It's still cool up here, middle 50's when I caught the racer. On the surface he looks pretty rough. He was long over due for his first shed of the season. But other than that his body weight was good.
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