When I was living in the Santa Cruz mountains I saw 5 owl species in the 13 years I was birding in the Monterey Bay area. They were the Northern Pygmy (seen 3 times at my home), Great Horned, Short-eared, Barn (seen twice) and Burrowing Owls (seen 3 times). Since we bought our new home off Mt Rose Hwy in Reno, NV last October 2015 I have seen 5 species. The first was Pygmy Owl I saw along Whites Creek but didn't get a good photo. The next was a Long-eared Owl and it was the guy below. There were about 7 in the Deadcreek area of the Washoe Lake State Park. This one flew over my head and I got lucky with the focus and was only able to get 2 shots off before he flew off.
Photo of the Week 34: Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) at Washoe SP, WAS (NV)
EQ: D7200, 300mm f/2.8 Taken: 2-15-2016 at 13:43
Settings: 450mm (35mm eqiv), 1/1250s, f/5.6, ISO640, +1/3EV Conditions: Sunny
A little while later on the same walk, Jeannine spotted this Western Screech Owl poking it's head out of a cavity. At first I thought it had it's eyes closed until I looked a little closer. He was keeping both eyes on me.
Western Screech Owl (Megascops kennicottii) at Washoe SP, WAS (NV)
EQ: D7200, 300mm f/2.8 Taken: 2-15-2016 at 14:21
Settings: 450mm (35mm eqiv), 1/250s, f/4.0, ISO400, +1/3EV Conditions: Sunny
The next was the Great Horned Owl. This one didn't look too please with me interrupting his resting spot but he didn't move giving me a great photo interaction with this very large owl.
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) at Washoe SP, WAS (NV)
EQ: D7200, 300mm f/2.8 Taken: 5-12-2016 at 10:58
Settings: 450mm (35mm eqiv), 1/640s, f/3.5, ISO320, +1/3EV Conditions: Sunny
In early May I again encountered a Long-eared Owl but this time I saw her on a nest and 8 days later I was pleasantly surprised to find 3 fledglings.
Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) at Washoe SP, WAS (NV)
EQ: D7200, 300mm f/2.8 Taken: 5-4-2016 at 11:09
Settings: 450mm (35mm eqiv), 1/640s, f/5.6, ISO320, +1/3EV Conditions: Sunny
Long-eared Owl, juvenile (Asio otus) at Washoe SP, WAS (NV)
EQ: D7200, 300mm f/2.8 Taken: 5-12-2016 at 11:55
Settings: 450mm (35mm eqiv), 1/640s, f/3.5, ISO320, +1/3EV Conditions: Sunny
Another encounter with a Great Horned Owl was at Pyramid Lake, which is north of Reno NV. I spooked her and I followed her to a near by perch and she was also very cooperative like the first GHOW I encountered. I was then rewarded with a pair of fledglings perch behind the trunk of a tree to reduce the wind.
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) at Pyramid Lake - Willows, WAS (NV)
EQ: D7200, 300mm f/2.8 Taken: 5-19-2016 at 11:03
Settings: 450mm (35mm eqiv), 1/640s, f/3.2, ISO100, +1/3EV Conditions: Sunny and Windy
Great Horned Owl, juvenile (Bubo virginianus) at Pyramid Lake - Willows, WAS (NV)
EQ: D7200, 300mm f/2.8 Taken: 5-19-2016 at 11:13
Settings: 450mm (35mm eqiv), 1/640s, f/3.2, ISO180, +1/3EV Conditions: Sunny and Windy
That same day I found a pair of Burrowing Owls off of Range Road on the way home. They were about a 1/2 km off so the photos I got were good for documentation purposes and for my Flickr photostream. So being in Nevada for 8 months I have seen the same number of species, although in Santa Cruz I have heard the Screech and Northern Saw-whet Owls, but I have seen more owls is such a short time in my new home county. There are a few other species in the area so I will be looking for them.
Your comments are welcomed and if you have any questions about the photo or any other questions leave me a message.