The Ural Owl is a medium-sized nocturnal owl found in Europe and northern Asia. They are in the same genus, Strix, as the locally more familiar Barred Owl.
The close ups below were taken with the Sony Alpha 6500, Sony 55-210 mm lens.
The ridge of feathers at the edge of the face create a disc, which works to trap and focus sound.
Ural Owl, Strix uralensis
The Center for Birds of Prey offers photographers an opportunity to take close-up photographs of owls and other birds of prey a few times a year.
The Center for Birds of Prey, Photography Day, April 22, 2018, Awenda, SC.
Nice capture Ellen. The disc looks like it was stitched in by a much better seamstress than me.
Thanks, Gina! It does look like stitching!
So beautiful! Is that your reflection in his eye in the last image?
It is my reflection, Donna! Their eyes are so large it is pretty cool to see yourself reflected back!
Now how cool is that?!!!! 🙂