Finally, wildlife!

Don’t get me wrong, the views are spectacular around here, and I’ve only been here a few weeks, but so far wildlife stalking has been a big disappointment in the Bay Area. Last night I went to Redwood Regional Park and like a dummy forgot to take a wide angle lens, which you really need to photograph redwoods. But what I never forget to take, because they don’t leave my backpack, are my 400mm lens and my tripod, although I’m sort of sick of the latter prompting everyone I pass to ask me if I’m a professional photographer. I know they’re just being friendly but I always feel foolish when I confess I’m hoping to photograph wildlife and they say something like “I saw a deer here once”. WHERE ARE THE COYOTES AND BOBCATS? Anyway, since last time I made time to post here I have been to Carmel and I’ve been to redwood forests and I’ve photographed the sun set over the bay and I have a queue of photos I’ve been meaning to share, but all that has to wait a little longer yet because last night as I was finishing up my hike at dusk, major excitement happened in the form of a GREAT HORNED OWL. I’m always on the lookout for owls and I’ve seen three barred owls in the wild, but that’s it. Until last night when I saw my favorite species, the Great Horned Owl, whom I love despite the fact that I have been massively mistreated by them doing raptor rehab. I was bopping along as the sun descended under the horizon when I heard a strange bird call I didn’t recognize, kind of a bark almost, and I looked up and saw a dark owl shape sitting on a branch. I switched from my normal to my telephoto lens, set up the tripod and focused – and found myself staring at a juvenile Great Horned Owl. WHICH MADE MY WEEK! It was really quite dark out by this time so the photos are very grainy and not nearly as pretty as my pics of the beach at Carmel, etc. but I’m way more excited about finally seeing a decent wildlife specimen that I am anything else I’ve photographed, so HERE YOU GO!