Kingsville Ontario's Great Gray Owl

During the Holidays, there was allot of buzz going around the web about a Great Gray Owl that took up winter residence in the town of Kingsville In Southern Ontario.
This was a very Unusual bird for this area as it's home range is 600-700 miles Northward of here, what also made it a strange occurrence was the mildness of our winter. In addition to this Bird there has been a large Irruption of Snowy Owls that have made there way down as well.

My focus was on the Great Gray, I said to myself after the holidays if this bird was still around I was gonna make my way up there and try to photograph this bird, what awaited me I could have never suspected.

I was joined by fellow Photographer Kirby Flanagan from Flanagan Photos " His website" on the ride up,  And  while there met up with  Photographer Jim Chagares  " His website"

We all enjoyed great Looks of the new Kingsville resident and found the people of the area accommodating and fun. The Owl  appeared to have no fear of humans, most likely because it was from the far North, and had not been Imprinted upon from it's parents at birth. therefore had no fear or understanding of humans. Not necessarily a good thing. But thru nevertheless.

We were able to capture flight shots as well as perched shots, even portrait shots. It was almost as if this bird was there for our personal photo encounter, At no time did we crowd or push the bird.  this bird was allowed to behave and act naturally within it's environment, without human Intervention or baiting. This is a 100% wild and free ranging bird.

The day we were there the Owl stayed in a Large field, here is a view of the Owl landing on a further of fenceline

As the Owl would perch along this fenceline, It would hunt for Voles along the fields edge, here the Owl is lifting off that fenceline to go after it's prey.

 

It would often dive strait down onto it's prey, other times circled upward and come in from above dive bombing it's prey through the field grasses as seen here.

After feeding time was over it would perch along various fence rails enjoying the day and soaking up the sunshine as seen here.

It was an incredible photographic opportunity, we even had opportunities for portrait type images as shown below.

It was an experience I will never forget, One we all enjoyed. there were close to 175 vehicles there at one point the day we were there, people coming and going constantly, everyone respectful and giving the bird distance. It seemed to want to be around people as it most times stayed close to the road.

A few days after these images were taken, the Owl vanished, Hopefully headed back home to its Birth born range to Live Free and Wild as he was meant to be.

I will forever remember this bird  and it's beauty  and hope it a safe, long and free existence!