Western Screech Owl

Daniel J. McCauley IV

Western Screech Owl

Found this guy long after he had spotted me, but he was brave, I got within about 10’ without his moving and shot probably 40 pics over the course of a couple hours (as I kept coming back).

These owls are “sit and wait” predators, dropping from a perch onto their prey. They feed mainly on that which is most available and may include insects, small mammals, birds, snakes, lizards, frogs, and crayfish. Their lifespan is up to 13 years.

Measurements & Weights:
Wingspan: 18 – 24 in.
Length: 7.5 – 11 in.
Tail: 3.5 in.
Average Weights:
Male: 5.4 oz.
Female: 6.6 oz.

Thanks for looking : )

Western Screech Owl belongs to the following groups:

Birds and Creatures of Flight, Birds Of Prey (3 per day), IPA -International Photographers Alliance, The Birds and The Eyes Have It Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints
Western Screech Owl by Daniel J. McCauley IV
Western Screech Owl by Daniel J. McCauley IV
  • rasnidreamer

    rasnidreamer

    This is an awesome capture. You must have been thrilled to get so many shots!

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    lol… That’s an understatement : ) He just sat there for hours & I kept coming back just to get a couple more shots – just in case. Thank you, kindly.

  • Stormygirl

    Stormygirl

    Wow!!!!! Great shot!!!!!!!!!!

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Very much appreciated, SG!

  • lianne

    lianne

    What an absolutely incredible shot Daniel – this is just spectacular! How fortunate you were! Perfect setting, perfect composition – wow!!!

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    I really appreciate the nice comments, lianne. Apparently the Wild Nature Group feels a bit differently about the shot – C’est la vie.

  • lianne

    lianne

    You have to be kidding Daniel! Sometimes I wonder about these groups – I had a shot turned down too for reasons I don’t understand. But there is a bird group – two in fact – that would love this Birds and Creatures of Flight is one, and the other is Birds-of-Prey/Raptors. Please consider putting them up there.

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thank much, I did submit to the “birds-of-prey” so we’ll see : ) Again, thank you for the support!

  • Kimberly Palmer

    Kimberly Palmer

    I just love those yellow eyes….. You are so lucky!
    Awesome shot Dan!!

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Agreed, sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good : ) Thank you very much, Kimberly.

  • Gregory Ewanowich

    Gregory Ewanowich

    Awesome capture! The color and clarity are amazing. Superb composition.

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Most kind, thanks greatly, Gregory!

  • Al Bourassa

    Al Bourassa

    Great shot, wonderful clarity.

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Very much appreciated, Al.

  • George Lenz

    George Lenz

    very well done… nice lighting and composition

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thanks very much, G!

  • Sharon Wormleaton

    Sharon Wormleaton

    Wonderful bird, wonderful shot. Love those eyes

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thanks kindly, Sharon.

  • jansnow

    jansnow

    Wow, wonderful photo and very interesting info too! Great job Daniel!!

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thank you very much, Jan : )

  • Cain Doherty

    Cain Doherty

    wow – so attentive and such a piercing gaze!

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thanks Cain!

  • jesika

    jesika

    A wonderful bird and a wonderful shot.
    j

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Very much appreciated, jesika.

  • Michael Bermingham

    Michael Bermi...

    His eyes are incredible!
    Awesome!

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thanks kindly, Michael.

  • Olga

    Olga

    Wow! Excellent shot! YOu must have promised him something after the photo show…a fat rat? LOL

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    lol… Yeah, he earned his pay : ) Thank you, Olga.

  • Sue Ellen Thompson

    Sue Ellen Thom...

    Great capture.

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thank you, Sue Ellen.

  • AnaCBStudio

    AnaCBStudio

    love the textures and composition…great capture!

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Greatly appreciated, Ana : )

  • Stacy Rodriguez

    Stacy Rodriguez

    Wow great capture, love the eyes.:)

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thanks you kindly, Stacy.

  • John McCracken

    John McCracken

    What a shot. Fantastic Catch. I need to get an owl!!

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Everybody should get one : ) Thanks much, John.

  • Robert Elliott

    Robert Elliott

    wonderful capture, superb image

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thanks much, Robert.

  • Mia1

    Mia1

    GORGEOUS capture. Stunning.

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    I really appreciate that. Thank you : )

  • Ginger Barritt

    Ginger Barritt

    Daniel….this is truly a spectacular photo….

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thanks so much, Ginger.

  • kcranmer

    kcranmer

    Wow Daniel superb capture…the owl actually looks like he’s posing for you, love those intense eyes!

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Much appreciated, Kellie. He did seem to pose, just sitting staring at me. Thanks again.

  • Dana Yoachum

    Dana Yoachum

    lol—great capture, though he looks dazed and confused. Probably wondering who you are and why you’ve got that funny thing in front of your eye. Nice capture though.. Love it.

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thank you, Dana. Yeah, he did seem to have that look : )

  • Wendy Slee

    Wendy Slee

    What a great shot of this rather daunting looking predator…would hate to be little and have his gaze upon me….... he sure blends in well with his setting.

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Very true, he actually blended in better than this shows, since it’s a close-up. I kept looking around wondering what these other birds were reacting to – finally found him, long after he had spotted me. Thank you : )

  • Linda Syms

    Linda Syms

    Great shot,I would love to find an owl in the wild,i have one in India,but not in the UK.

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thanks, Linda. I was pretty excited to find him : )

  • WesternDreamer

    WesternDreamer

    What a treat that had to be for you to be able to get SO close… and to get SO many shot also! A wonderful capture you presented here to share with us, and I enjoyed the reading as well! ;~)

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    I was thrilled! Thank you kindly, LaWanda : )

  • Stephen Thomas

    Stephen Thomas

    Great photo of this cute owl

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thank you, Stephen.

  • Angela Churchill

    Angela Churchill

    Wow… awesome shot!!!

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thanks much, Angela : )

  • Laurie Puglia

    Laurie Puglia

    This is a great find :) laurie

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thanks much, Laurie.

  • Mette Spange

    Mette Spange

    Hi Daniel..this is a really beautiful photo! You are very lucky to have seen this amazing bird…I am still waiting for a chance like that!! WOW just wonderful!

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Yes, I did get quite lucky : ) Thanks kindly, Mette.

  • Jan Cartwright

    Jan Cartwright

    I’ve missed a lot lately, including this great shot. Wonderful capture, Daniel! It’s simply perfect.

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Very much appreciated, Jan : ) Hope your son is doing better.

  • swtcountry51

    swtcountry51

    This is fantastic!!!!!

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thank you kindly : )

  • pmarella

    pmarella

    Wow, this is wonderful.

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thanks very much, Pat.

  • amarica

    amarica

    Awsome capture Daniel. xxxxxx

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thank you kindly, Ann : )

  • Ken Aitchison

    Ken Aitchison

    Great capture…as usual! I hear owls around my house at night but have never found one durring the day to shoot.

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thanks, Ken. Yeah, I got lucky finding this guy.

  • Anne-Marie Bokslag

    Anne-Marie Bok...

    Wow, lucky you Daniel to find this… maybe he thought you were his prey…lol

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    lol… That did go thru my mind : ) Thanks much, Anne-Marie.

  • Tara Sheffer-Archie

    Tara Sheffer-A...

    Superb shot!!!!!!!

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Very much appreciated!

  • eXposure

    eXposure

    such amazing eye’s …
    wonderful detailed capture

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Yeah, they have very cool eyes. Thank you, Wendy.

  • SkyFoxFPP

    SkyFoxFPP

    Great detail and focus! So great seeing your work again!

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Too kind! Very much appreciated & so glad you’re back : )

  • MICKSPIXPHOTOS

    MICKSPIXPHOTOS

    GREAT CAPTURE OF A TOUGH SUBJECT TO GET ANY KIND OF PICTURE OF. REALLY WELL DONE.

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thank you very much, Mick, I really appreciate it!

  • Carol & Kev Haberle

    Carol & Kev Ha...

    Perfect capture of one gorgeous little owl…beautifully captured.
    Carol

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thank you kindly, Carol. Much appreciated!

  • LaRae

    LaRae

    Wow! How cool.

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thank you :-)

  • Michael Wolf

    Michael Wolf

    Excellent capture, Daniel!

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thanks very much, Michael!

  • flyfish70

    flyfish70

    Awesome capture Dan!!!!!!!!! Those eyes are amazing, great looking bird!!!!!!!!!!

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Much appreciated, Ashby :) He was terrific looking!

  • cdwork

    cdwork

    Wonderful shot!

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thanks, Chrissy :-)

  • Renee Dawson

    Renee Dawson

    He is beautiful. What a wonderful image!

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Very much appreciated, Renee :-)

  • Trishy

    Trishy

    What an amazing composition – I love owls – Your capture showcases the beautiful textures of the bird and his environment

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    What a wonderful comment. Thank you kindly, Trishy : )

  • Sandy Stewart

    Sandy Stewart

    WOW,.............A stunning capture of a Screech Owl! Exposure, dof is right on! Not a detail missing! The subject blends in nicely to the tree and yet stands out so nicely against the darker background cavity in the tree! Beautiful catch light in the eyes! So real to life, I’m expecting it to move anytime! lol Fantastic work and a 10 out 10!!! An instant favorite for me!

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Sorry, Sandy, just saw this most gracious comment. Thank you, so very much : )

  • Rosalie Scanlon

    Rosalie Scanlon

    Wonderful capture, his eyes are beautiful.

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Very much appreciated, Rosalie!

  • karenuk1969

    karenuk1969

    A beautiful shot, well captured.

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thank you, Karen : )

  • Bellavista2

    Bellavista2

    Brilliant Capture, such a beautiful photo, great clarity and composition:-}

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thank you kindly, Bellavista :-)

  • LumenLux

    LumenLux

    Very well done. It always impresses me how these wild creatures, so well camouflaged, do occasionally end up in such a great photo. The natural camo makes the result that much more interesting. What was your lighting on this?

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Thank you very much. Actually this was mid-day, she sat on the edge of a hollow of a tree, bright but not in direct sunlight. Thank you, again : )

  • Sharry Akin

    Sharry Akin

    Oh wow…the eyes get me with these birds. Excellent capture..I’m jealous you got soo close!

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    lol… I did get very lucky : ) Thank you very much, Sharry!

  • bobbymcleod

    bobbymcleod

    check out that camouflage…great shot daniel!

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Sorry, I just saw this… Thank you very much, Bobby!

  • Eyal Nahmias

    Eyal Nahmias

    Excellent capture, great composition and details. Great description

  • Daniel J. McCa... replied

    Very much appreciated, Eyal!

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