Search

Brian Morin

Canada (Ontario)

📍 Map

Date taken: Feb 22 2025

Details: adult

Ottawa - Well hidden in cedars, I finally saw this bird that I had missed earlier in the week. There have been a number of Boreal Owls in southwestern Quebec and this one in Eastern Ontario, part of a minor irruption along with Great Gray Owls. The bird was very difficult to shoot because of branches. My shot window was no more than 6" wide and 2" high before branches compromised the shot. I used a monopod otherwise precision would have been impossible. It was also very dark and very late on a cloudy day. I shot at 1/10 second at 8,000 ISO.

Date uploaded: Feb 23

Boreal Owl (10)

Brian Morin

📍 Map

Details: adult, outside normal range

Gatineau - This was my second trip to see this northern species and it turned out better than my previous visit. The bird showed better this time.

Date uploaded: Mar 10 2023

Comments (4):
Chris: A real treat to see knowing it is one of the most difficult species in North America to find.
BrianMorin: Absolutely. It is even a real challenge on its breeding territory. We got lucky with this one.

Boreal Owl (10)

Brian Morin

📍 Map

Date taken: Jan 28 2023

Details: adult, outside normal range

Gatineau - This bird had been around for a week but hadn't been seen since Monday. I got word this morning that it had been found again so I headed up and was rewarded for my effort along with others. Shooting conditions were tough. The light was poor and finding a hole to shoot through to avoid branches was very challenging. The bird rarely had its eyes open and when it did they were heavily shaded. It wasn't interested in people, passing dogs or Chickadees. That's what it's like when you've recently downed a meadow vole.

Date uploaded: Jan 29 2023

Comments (8):
Chris: Fabulous to see and such a good result. They can be so difficult to find, and as you say even once found, the conditions are usually very tricky.
BrianMorin: Correct on all points. That's why we seldom see one.

Boreal Owl (10)

Jay Vandergaast

📍 Map

Date taken: Jan 5 2020

Date uploaded: Jul 6 2022

Boreal Owl (10)

Brian Morin

Date taken: Jan 7 2020

Details: adult

A follow up trip brought us repeat success with an early morning sighting. The bird does not hunt during daytime unlike its cousin the Northern Hawk Owl which we saw recently. It sleeps most of the time, waking every few hours, preening and sometimes moving to a different perch just to exercise its wings. It does not become active until after dark.

Date uploaded: Jan 8 2020

Boreal Owl (10)

Brian Morin

Date taken: Jan 5 2020

Details: adult

We made three attempts in recent weeks to locate this bird and on the third try we were successful. It was worth the effort and we got to see it with its eyes open. Owls look much better when they are awake.

Date uploaded: Jan 6 2020

Boreal Owl (10)

Canada (British Columbia)

lou_dav

Date taken: Apr 1 2015

Dee Lake Road, Lake Country BC
This was the undisputed highlight of our birding tour, taken around 10:30 PM high above Kelowna. Usually our guide is happy to have one answer him, this one appeared in his spotlight long enough for the group to view and photograph.
This was my only lifer on the tour.

Date uploaded: Apr 23 2015