American Kestrel on European Starling Prey

We started strong on the morning of February 25th during the last of my eight weeks of Winter Owl Workshops. A beautiful, almost pure white adult male Snowy Owl showed well, and we got a terrific take-off launch sequence. With the high still lingering, we set up where a predictable female Snowy Owl spent her winter. Despite a relatively quiet (and wet) afternoon, we got some great frames of a Male Northern Harrier (AKA Gray Ghost) hunting close to us. We continued our day with another drive and stopped for a flock of Horned Lark, and then Dave Evans pointed out some movement in front of the van; An American Kestrel had just grabbed a European Starling and dropped it on the side of the road. We set up low, sat, and waited for the Kestrel to return to her prize as she watched from the closest telephone pole. It didn’t take long to return and feast on her recent catch! This is almost the last frame I made before we left her in peace. Stay tuned to the blog for more images from this winter!

American Kestrel on European Starling Prey (Falco sparverius, Crécerelle d'Amérique, AMKE on Sturnus vulgaris, Étourneau sansonnet, EUST) Ontario, Canada, during my recent Winter Owl Workshops. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a9 Mark III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 16,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure.

High-key Snowy Owl

Here is a simple, high-key image of a Snowy Owl after being harassed by a raven while scouting for my upcoming owl workshops. I hadn’t noticed the owl because I was on the other side of the snow mound (a snow-covered pile of manure) that hid the owl. The constant dive-bombing alerted me to the concealed owl, as is often the case.

Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus, Harfang des neiges, SNOW) Ontario, Canada, while scouting for my Winter Owl Workshops. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 10,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure.

Happy New Year Dancing Snowy Owl

Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year filled with peace, hope, love and light.

This Dancing Snowy Owl was photographed from my car window a few days ago while scouting for my upcoming Winter Snowy Owl Workshops. A few spots remain for the February 17-21 Winter Snowy Owls Workshop. Click the image to learn more.

Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus, Harfang des neiges, SNOW) Ontario, Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 10,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Snowy Owl & Workshop Update

This is the second Snowy Owl in the same area that I found my first of the year (see my Nov. 13 & Nov. 14 posts). I was almost as surprised as the owl as I wandered through the heavy frost in the misty fog as the rain started to fall. It's still too early to decide if this winter will be great for owls, but the early indicators are all good. Fingers crossed that they establish the area as their winter hunting grounds.

Two spots remain available for my recently added Winter Owl Workshop, February 10-14, 2025.

Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus, Harfang des neiges, SNOW) Quebec, Canada. Sony a9 III mirrorless camera body & Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens @600mm F/6.3 ISO 6,400 @ 1/5,000s.

Gret Gray Owl on a Birch Perch

The first whispers of Great Gray Owl arrivals have started to circulate a little later than usual this year. Here is one from my winter owl workshops in 2014 that I love because of its simplicity.

Another Snowy Owl was just seen along the beach near where I host my Deluxe Atlantic Puffin Workshops.

Great Gray Owl on a birch perch (Strix nebulosa, Chouette Lapone, GGOW, Dark Wood Owl, Lapland Owl, Striped Owl, Lapp Striped Owl) ©Christopher Dodds From my Winter Owl Workshops in February, 2014 500mm X 1.4 @700mm ISO 3,200, F5.6 @ 1/2,500s Manual Exposure mode. Join me for my winter owl workshops in January and February

Boreal Owl

I wanted to share this image of a boreal owl made during my Winter Owl Workshops 19 years ago in 2005 that I have just licensed for publication. Notice how I had to work differently with the first generations of professional digital cameras; I used ISO 800, which was exceptionally high and considered noisy back then. This image is reprocessed using the latest Adobe Camera Raw and Photoshop techniques, which make a huge difference compared to the cover of the winter 2008 edition of Québec Oiseaux Magazine shown below.

Boreal Owl or Tengmalm's Owl (Aegolius funereus, Nyctale de Tengmalm) from for my Winter Owl Workshops in 2005. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. 100-400mm Zoom @220mm ISO 800, f/5.6 @ 1/100s Manual exposure. Full Frame image.

Cover of the Winter 2008 edition of Québec Oiseaux magazine.

Great Gray Owl Snow Queen

This is a great gray owl image from my winter owl workshop a few years ago. It was snowing so heavily that finding the owl perched quite far from the road was difficult.

Great Gray Owl Snow Queen (Strix nebulosa, Chouette Lapone, GGOW, Dark Wood Owl, Lapland Owl, Striped Owl, Lapp Striped Owl) ©Christopher Dodds Sony Alpha a1 Mirrorless Camera & Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens @201mm ISO 2,500, F6.3 @ 1/3,20s Manual Exposure mode. Full frame image. Join me for my winter owl workshops in January & February.

“I just returned home from a trip to Ontario, Canada with Christopher Dodds to look for and photograph Snowy Owls. The weather was cold and snowy, but not necessarily Snowy Owl cold, so I was worried that the Snowy Owls might be thin on the ground. Christopher Dodds deserves kudos and my thanks! He led our photo trek and put me (and the others in the party I joined) in position to see, watch, track and photograph Snowy Owls. I was able to capture wonderful images of Snowy Owls at rest, in flight, on the hunt, on the ground in the fields, in blowing snow! Outstanding photographic results for me, better than I anticipated. From the get go it was obvious that Christopher Dodds knows his Snowy Owls and wildlife photography. He is an excellent photography trek leader, knowledgeable, personable, professional and helpful to me and the others in our group at every turn. I am impressed with Christopher as a photography trek leader, particularly as his focus was on his clients at all times, and the well being of the Owls. He ensured that we did everything possible to not stress or disturb the Owls in their habitat. Of particular note Christopher is not a photography trek leader who spends his time with his own camera, taking his own photographs. He spent all his time with us locating Owls, coaching us, helping us with our equipment and camera settings, and letting us know what to expect and when to expect an Owl to fly, in what direction, and when. What an outstanding experience! Thank you, Christopher. I hope to enjoy another trek with you soon.”
— Joe Norton, USA January 23-27, 2023 owl workshop

Snowy Owl Out of the Woods

This snowy owl was photographed during my Winter Snowy Owl Workshop. A warm front caused a light fog, lowering the contrast and softening the background. This Snowy Owl seemed to love perching on the edge of the forest, unlike most, who prefer the wide open spaces of farm fields during the winter, much like at their nesting grounds on the tundra much further North in the summer.

Snowy Owl Out of the Woods (Bubo scandiacus, Harfang des neiges, SNOW) from my Snowy Owl Workshop in Ontario, Canada. Sony a1 mirrorless camera body Sony & Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens @600mm F/6.3 ISO 3,200 @ 1/5,000s. Full frame image.

Snowy Owl ICE TALON

Light freezing rain caused a thin layer of ice over the freshly fallen snow. I love how the talons grip the ice as this young female Snowy Owl takes flight.


Owl toes and talons

Owls have four toes on each foot. Two toes point forward, one toe points backward, and each foot's ‘reversible’ outer toe can point forward or backward, as the owl wishes. Sometimes, three of the owl’s toes point forward, and sometimes only two. With two toes pointing forward and two back, known as a zygodactyl, the owl can perch securely on a branch. When the owl clutches its prey, its toes spread so the owl can get a firm grip. It is known as anisodactyl when it has three toes facing forward and one backward.

A long, sharp claw called a talon is at the end of each toe. The owl uses its talons to snatch, squeeze, and kill prey animals. It also uses talons to defend itself against predators, such as hawks, other owls, badgers, and raccoons.

Many owls have feathered legs and feet for warmth. Snowy Owls, for example, who live in the cold Arctic, have heavily feathered legs and feet. Elf Owls live in warm, southern climates and have lightly feathered legs.

Snowy Owl ICE TALON (Bubo scandiacus, Harfang des neiges, SNOW) from my Snowy Owl Workshop in Ontario, Canada. Sony a9 II Camera body, Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS Lens, Sony FE 1.4X Teleconverter @ 840mm F/5.6 ISO 1,600 1/3,200s.

Snow Owl Landing in Predawn Light

This Snowy Owl was photographed before sunrise during my Winter Snowy Owl workshop a couple of years ago on a bitterly cold morning. I love the natural gradient the ice fog added to the background, and I took the liberty of removing the top of the telephone post it landed on to make a better image.

Snowy Owl landing in predawn light (Bubo scandiacus, Harfang des neiges, SNOW) from my Snowy Owl Workshop in Ontario, Canada. Sony a1 Camera body Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS Lens & Sony FE 1.4X Teleconverter @840mm F/5.6 ISO 16,000 1/4,000s.

“I have just been fortunate enough to participate in a Winter Owl workshop run by Chris. The experience was outstanding. Chris had thoroughly researched our excursions beforehand and knew exactly where the Owls were wintering - he also spared no effort to maximise our photo opportunities - both in terms of weather conditions, lighting, angles, backdrop etc - but also in terms of helping us each personally during the week with technical tips towards achieving better results.

Logistically the trip was also a pleasure with spacious transport, good accommodations and food, and an enjoyable group camaraderie. Altogether a great trip, and I would thoroughly recommend Chris as a guide for future trips.”
— Jonathan Mercer, UK

Nashville Warbler

This is an image of a Nashville Warbler photographed during my 2019 Songbirds of Pelee Workshop that I just reprocessed for publication in a magazine. I love the striking, big-eyed look of the Nashville Warbler, thanks to the white eyering that contrasts sharply with its gray hood.

Nashville warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla, Paruline à joues grises, NAWA) from my SONGBIRDS OF PELEE WORKSHOP at Point Pelee National Park of Canada in Leamington, Ontario, Canada ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Sony Alpha a1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm. ISO 10,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure.

Eastern Kingbird

There was no shortage of Eastern Kingbirds during my Songbirds of Pelee Workshop at Point Pelee National Park of Canada. This image was made while waiting for a Prothonotary Warbler to drop down from the top of a tree.

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus, Tyran tritri, EAKI) Photographed during my SONGBIRDS OF PELEE WORKSHOP at Point Pelee National Park of Canada in Leamington, Ontario, Canada ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Sony Alpha a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 3,200, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Prothonotary Warbler

A Prothonotary Warbler pauses on an open perch during my Songbirds of Pelee Workshop in Point Pelee National Park of Canada. We had some amazing encounters with at least four Prothonotary Warblers (endangered species in Ontario).

Prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea, Pauline orangée, PROW) from my SONGBIRDS OF PELEE WORKSHOP at Point Pelee National Park of Canada in Leamington, Ontario, Canada ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Sony Alpha a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm. ISO 20,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure.

Yellow-throated Warbler

On the morning of May 10, 2019, during my Songbirds of Pelee Workshop at Point Pelee National Park, a Yellow-throated warbler was the star visitor. We had an amazing morning watching it creep over the branches of the trunk of a few trees, much like a Black-and-white Warbler, before it jumped onto this perch in front of the out-of-focus marsh background.

Why Point Pelee? Location! Location! Location!

Point Pelee is part of a peninsula at the crossroads of two major migration routes, extending into the western basin of Lake Erie. It is one of the first points of land spring migrants reach in the pre-dawn hours when crossing Lake Erie at night. Point Pelee’s diverse habitats provide shelter for more than 390 recorded species of birds.

On rare occasions, you may witness a fallout of migrants in the park.  Fallouts or groundings of songbirds occur when a warm weather front advancing from the south or southeast meets a cold weather front moving in from the north or northwest.  Birds will descend when the two fronts meet at ground level or when the birds flying on a warm front override a cold front.

Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica, Paruline à gorge jaune, YTWA) Photographer May 10, 2019, during my SONGBIRDS OF PELEE WORKSHOP at Point Pelee National Park of Canada in Leamington, Ontario, Canada ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @800mm. ISO 5,000, f/5.6 @ 1/2,000s Manual exposure.

Long-eared Owl.

In his play Love's Labour's Lost, William Shakespeare wrote, "Then nightly sings the staring owl." These words certainly apply to any of these big-eyed, big-headed birds, for owls do indeed stare. And in that staring face, we can see some of the owl's adaptations for life in the dark.

Unlike the eyes of other birds, an owl's eyes face straight ahead, like our own, giving the bird binocular vision. Unlike human eyes, however, they do not move in their sockets, so the bird must swivel its head to follow moving objects.

Although owls see well in dim light, most depend on supersensitive hearing when searching for prey. Long-eared Owls have hearing so acute that they can snatch prey in complete darkness.

Long-eared Owl (Asio otus, Hibou moyen-duc, LEOW) Ontario, Canada. Image copyright ©Christopher Dodds. All rights reserved. Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless camera and Sony 200-600mm Lens (@600mm). ISO 400, f/8 @ 1/125s Manual exposure. Full-frame image. Join me for my annual Owls Galore Workshops in January.

American Redstart Displaying

An American Redstart displaying during my Songbirds of Pelee Workshop at Point Pelee National Park of Canada. We had so much fun trying to get a clean background as this stunning warbler bounced around, trying to get noticed by a female.

Male American Redstarts display to females during courtship by fluffing plumage, raising crown feathers, spreading wings and tail, and bowing.

Still space for you to join the fun and photograph spring migration in all of its glory at one of the top 10 migration hotspots in the world! Learn more about my Songbirds of Pelee Workshop HERE.

American Redstart Displaying (Setophaga ruticilla, Paruline flamboyante, AMRE). Point Pelee National Park of Canada during my Songbirds of Pelee Workshop. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds all Rights Reserved. Sony Alpha a1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 10,000, f/8 @ 1/2,500s Manual exposure.

Yellow-throated Vireo

This Yellow-throated Vireo was photographed during my Songbirds of Pelee Workshop at Point Pelee National Park of Canada. I used my Sony 600mm f/4 G Master lens with my Sony 1.4X teleconverter.

Due to a medical emergency that resulted in a cancellation, there is still room for you to join my May 7-11 Songbirds of Pelee workshop at Point Pelee National Park. Come and experience the magic of spring migration at one of the top 10 birding destinations in the world! Learn more about my Songbirds of Pelee spring migration workshop HERE.

These little insect-eating birds resemble the warblers with whom they often migrate. Vireos, however, have somewhat thicker bills, search more slowly and carefully for food, and are less colourful. Eleven species breed in North American woodlands and thickets, constructing cup-shaped nests suspended from tree branches' forks.

Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons, Viréo à gorge jaune, YTVI) from mySONGBIRDS OF PELEE GALORE WORKSHOP Point Pelee National Park of Canada ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Sony Alpha a1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 1.4X Teleconverter @840mm. ISO 1,600, f/13 @ 1/400s Manual exposure. Full-frame image.

Great Grey Owls LOVERS

Happy Valentine's Day

This image was made in Ontario, Canada, on January 26, 2005. I have a series of about 80 images that I kept from this incredible moment in a field behind a water treatment plant in Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada. Witnessing the affection, vocalizations, and gestures these two Great Grey Owls performed was incredibly touching and unforgettable!

Great Grey Owls LOVERS (Strix nebulosa, Chouette Lapone, GGOW) Ontario, Canada January 26, 2005. © Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Canon 1D Mark II with Canon 100-400 zoom lens @120mm. ISO 250 f/6.3 @ 1/1,600s.

Short-eared owl

This was the last frame from the first of my Winter Owl workshops, which concluded yesterday. The snow was a welcome treat after many weather-related challenges (Rain & tropical weather)!

The Short-eared Owl was first described in 1763 by Danish bishop and amateur naturalist Erich Ludvigsen Pontoppidan. They have also been called the Evening Owl, Marsh Owl, Bog Owl, Grass Owl, Meadow Owl, Mouse-hawk, and Flat-faced Owl.

Short-eraed Owl in Flight (Asio flammeus, Hibou des marais, SEOW) The last frame from my first Winter Owls Galore workshop that concluded yesterday. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 12,800, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full Frame image.