Spying in the 'Hundred Acre Woods.'

[Joe F.N.]

Slipping into some underbrush, I set my lens on the visitor to see what his modus operandi might be when I am out of sight. The protection of my menagerie is paramount. No sooner was he alone when from his pocket appeared some seed with which to entice the innocent aviafauna.


http://joefn.smugmug.com/photos/139351843-O.jpg


With steely eyes he scanned an area behind him. Guilt plainly written on his face. "Is he watching" he mumbles softly to himself?


http://joefn.smugmug.com/photos/139351817-O.jpg


From the bull rushes he pulls a hard case that he had placed there the night before. Slowly and silently the catches are released and now with the sun sparkling on the white barrel he extracts his secret weapon. The long glass with extender is carefully placed on a tripod and with great precision aimed at the Merganser gliding before him, unaware of his presence. The rapid clicking of the shutter on his 1Dn hides the simultaneous release of mine. With such weaponry these birds have no chance. This man, now caught on a digital image will pay the price for his ruthlessness.


http://joefn.smugmug.com/photos/139351702-O.jpg

[Mao]

De man came equipped Joe!

I'd print and frame the 2nd. shot.

[Sheldon Bowles]

They don't come any more ruthless and dangerous looking than this Joe. I wonder you managed to escape without six inches of cold steel between your ribs. Last time I saw a look like that captured on film, (or whatever it is you capture on these days) was Rick Mercer asking Danny Williams about the cod fishery. Not a pretty sight.

Proof positive that some people will stop at nothing to get a good picture.

[Joe F.N.]

De man came equipped Joe!

I'd print and frame the 2nd. shot.

It will be printed all right and then it will find a prominent place in the post office and law enforcement precincts throughout the country.

They don't come any more ruthless and dangerous looking than this Joe. I wonder you managed to escape without six inches of cold steel between your ribs. Last time I saw a look like that captured on film, (or whatever it is you capture on these days) was Rick Mercer asking Danny Williams about the cod fishery. Not a pretty sight.

Proof positive that some people will stop at nothing to get a good picture.

Sheldon this man is to be feared by birds and birders alike. Thankfully Mao has an anti-lens weapon that is a match to this man's armament.

[EV Wonder]

Looks like a kid, Joe, who just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar! Great shots...and an even better commentary. Ever think of writing 'thrillers' for a living? You had my rapt attention!! :brows:

[Harv]

I felt compelled to respond to this thread to set the record straight. Things are not quite what Joe would have you believe. He would have you believe that I was out there to satisfy my own selfish desires. This was not the case.

In fact, I had commissioned Joe, at no small expense to myself (a LARGE Tim Horton coffee with EXTRA cream and EXTRA sugar), to document my expedition to locate and record for the Ancient and Honourable Order of Pole Owl Photographers club, a rare sighting of the ‘Ultimate Pole Owl’. At no small risk to myself, I embarked on this endeavour to capture for posterity an image of this most ferocious feathered fiend. I owed at least this much to our most honoured leader, Sheldon.

While positioning Joe well back in the safety of the trees, I ventured forth into the reeds. In an effort to make the owl feel secure, I enticed a chickadee with some seeds to come sit on my hand. This was all in an effort to relieve any anxiety the owl may have felt. The result was a beautiful image capture of this most elusive of Pole Owls as evidenced below. I should point out that at no time were any feathered friends hurt in any way in the recording of this image.

I now insist on a public apology from Joe to vindicate myself for once and for all. I feel the apology should be posted on every section of this forum.


http://harveyg.smugmug.com/photos/139360225-O.jpg

[Sheldon Bowles]

Ah now, this puts an entirely different slant on the pole, so to speak.

A large Timmies with double cream AND double sugar is a significant piece of new evidence not available earlier in this thread.

It turns out that this nefarious offender of the public peace and vile defiler of all things held sacrid east of Toronto is, in fact, Saint Harvey of Cobourg, well known for his support of small children, women's right to read, (text approved by husbands, of course) the Lime Green political movement, certain anabaptist theological positions currently hotly debated in Her Royal Majesty's Church of England and the right of all citizens to bear cameras and photograph polled owls at will. This is a man to be respected, admired, and emulated. Stevie Harper doffs his hat when Saint Harvey of Cobourg passes in the street. All laud and honor be upon his lens.

Yet, we also have the testimony of Joe --- not just your average Joe, but a Joseph "F" if you please, of the Oshawa persuasion. This is a man known to be of the highest integrity who causes his wife's head to shake with his witty posts, who has charmed even Desert Rat and who has recently shown his mettle by putting his name forward for membership into TAHOPOP --- into which he was most joyously accepted.

To paraphrase Sir Arthur (Conan Doyle, not Round Table) this seems to be a two rum and coke problem.

And, may, require a visit to the Hundred Acre Wood to view the scene, the Tim Horton's cup (rim rolled up, or not, as the case may be) and a direct question or two to finally resolve.

Finally, there is the evidence of this exceptional pole owl photograph which is sufficient to bring tears to the eyes of the most hardened raptor photographer.

[Ellen]

You guys crack me up, keep up the good work I need a good laugh.