Screech Owls
“Kung Fu Fighting”– Bradenton, Florida – Troy Lim – Featured Photographer
I was pretty stunned when I saw this photo. It looks like the owl is evicting the little mouse from his warm home in a Sabal Palm. If only that were the case in this instance. Actually, this is what Screech owls do best. They along with other species of owls keep the rodent populations in check. So next time you don’t see a mouse or rat running through your back yard, Thank an owl. In this case please thank Troy for his amazing image by checking out the rest of his wildlife photography portfolio at http://www.troylimphotography.com.
Enter Troy:
I was informed of a pair of Eastern Screech Owls nesting in a Sabal Palm. When I arrived one of the pair was actively bringing food back the nest: first, a grasshopper then a lizard. I hurried to set up for the shots. The shooting area was tight and the angle to steep. I had to find a way to lessen the angle. I pulled the pickup truck close to the palms and stood on the roof of the truck, waiting about 45 minutes for the owl to return. The owl approached the palms and was being chased by Blue Jays; it quickly darted into the larger hole in one of the palms. To my amazement he showed back up in the hole holding a mouse in front of him. He repositioned the mouse several times until it looked like a martial artist. I was lucky to be there for this interaction and hope the picture conveys the real life drama of Nature.
CAMERA SPECIFICATIONS:
•Camera body: Nikon D3s
•Camera lens: Nikon 400mm VRII
•Lens accessories: N/A
•Shutter speed: 1/200
•Aperture setting: f/10
•ISO: 1600
•Flash: Nikon SB900, filled flash
•Flash accessories (remote triggers, extenders): Better Beamer
•Tripod (or car window mounts, bean bags, etc.): Tripod Gitzo 3541XLS
•Tripod head: Wimberley Gimbal Head II
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A great capture, but I can’t help but feel sorry for the mouse. It’s like it’s calling for help!
wow. stunning photo.
I absolutely love this picture. Wild life photography is so difficult because you have to click at just the right moment. I’d say you found the “right moment” with this photo. Well done!
Oh my goodness! I know the description is “Kung Fu Fighting”, but I think that mousey is saying (in a raspy, disheveled voice), “Help meeeeee!”
Amazing photo. My heart aches for that mouse though.
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Incredibly efficient predator, owls! Well done, wise one! Feed your nestlings!
Unlikely friends. Great photo moment!
It almost looks like the mouse is the owl’s toy.
Fabulous timing in this photo.
This is an amazing and inspired shot. I love owls – I collect them in all sorts of ways. Coffee cups, clothing, books, jewellery. I think I have a problem! Fabulous work
What adorable creatures! ^^
Hi all, thank you for the comment. The mouse didn’t survive.
What a shot!
What clarity! Can I say ‘wow!’ and ‘ouch’ in the same sentence?
Thanks for sharing.
Blessings
ann
An amazing shot! Well worth the wait.
Wow! What are the chances of capturing such a photo!
Such a wonderful shot!
What an amazing photo .. just wonder if the little mousse survived in the end. The mousse is cute and the owl looks like he means the business ..
Great shot! It’s worth being patient, this picture proves it.
Incredible shot.
What can we say? You constantly amaze us with you one-of-a-kind photos. Keep up the good work! CJ & TJ
Oh, wow! That’s pretty amazing.
Just amazing!!
What an amazing photo. Jay
What a great capture. I’m really feeling bad for that mouse…he’s kinda cute.
Fanastic photos, stunning in fact. I might come and live on this site.
What a fine photo of a fine bird.
I saw this and thought “No way . . .” I can’t believe the picture isn’t photoshopped. Quite a catch — literally!
Awesome photo! Absolutely love it. The expression of “Ok so you found me- since your eyes are that of mine- you can photograph me….” just love it so do the girls! Flea loves owls- and to see one with this much detail absolutely delighted her!
Interesting, the owl has not eaten the mouse yet.
Terrific shot, had to be there kind of moment, thanks for taking us there via the photo.
What a catch! Both by the owl and by the photographer! Fantastic.
Oh. Wow! What a fantastic shot.
Amazing photo! I love to see photos of owls. The large eyes on this owl is very striking. Poor mouse. One of a kind, great job!
Wow, so vivid and clear. Breathtaking!
What an amazing shot! Reminds me of the great horned owls I saw in Yellowstone but their prey that day was a robin.
Wow – amazing
Wow!
OMG, when I first looked I saw a terrified miniature human tyring to get free! It’s only when I read the description that I went back to examine and saw the mouse.
amazing picture. love it.
Very cool shot. It looks like the mouse is pleading for help. An action/terrorist shot for the cover of Rodent Life magazine.
Wow. Amazing shot
Absolutley awesome! I swear im going on a hunt to see an owl soon!!!
We had a screech owl when I was a kid named Aristotle. What amazing creatures. Great shot and you were certainly blessed with that strange turn of events to capture. : )
An amazing look at part of the food chain
Thanks for liking my site..love the owl photo…tried to subscribe with my gmail email address but it said it didn’t look like an email address even though it is in fact correct so used this one which I hardly use..I will send you a copy of a photo taken outside my home not long ago which is on a Blog story about David Louthan which looks like Jim’s face in the sky(cloud formations)…Love your site here and have tweeted it…Call again soon…I have bad eyes and don;t know how much longer I will be on the Internet now…Nice to know your site…Very clear and love dark backgrounds..
Love, love love this shot! And the dynamic details that went with it.
Great photo. But my heart goes out to the mouse. Poor little guy.
Great post! wonderful site.
Simply amazing….
Amazing capture!
nice picture!! =)
How amazing! I’d love to have this owl visit me. I have a chipmunk I’d like to have him get.
You must have felt so lucky to get this shot. Wow!
fantastic picture.
Awwww so adorable!
Wonderfully captured moment!
amazing capture. beautiful shot.
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How cute! Like a little bat… don’t worry, I think bats are cute.
What an amazing shot! Thanks for sharing
A unique picture that shows the Reality in Animal Kingdom!
Top points!
Wonder what he was thinking? Was he offering the mouse to the Blue Jays as a peace offering…! Or did he return home to find a mouse invading his nest?
Great picture….. the owls eyes have a hint of anger.. !!
Absolutely incredible picture…what a moment to capture…
wow.
such a great story + image, truly a brilliant snapshot in a wild creature’s day… kudos to the photog’s intuition + patience!!
AND NOW NOTHING EXCEPT FOR ZOOM IN AND TAKE THE PIC–
HAPPY EASTER
Incredible!! Thank you for bringing us this shot of nature. Sharon
I can’t get over the owl’s eyes. They are so clear and beautiful! Thank you for sharing this one with us!
Had to double take when looking at this, I initially through the rat was pointing at the camera!!!!
What a photo!
The fight for survival in nature is so brutal – what an amazing moment to catch on camera. I also liked the bit about the Blue Jays, it reminds us that owls are not evil killers but are just as threatened as the mouse to end up on somebody’s dinner menu.
Peek a who lol
just amazing. more the picture your efforts are commendable
brilliant.
haha too cute!! Perfect shot
very powerful image
plus the two commentaries added a lot i think
i esp liked the part ’bout the blue jays chasing the owl, nature is incredible!
very nice, thanks!
It is a powerful photograph. I am in awe.
Look at those eyes. They’re the pupils of a scientist or a judge. I know it’s futile to say, please don’t think I’m nuts since that ship sailed long ago, but he looks like the actor Milo O’Shea. Great photo all the way around.
OMG ! Hard to catch such a moment but worth all the time.