The Barred Owls I have observed spend a lot of time watching before they strike their prey.

When the time is right, the dive is very precise, and fast.

And sometimes after all that the prize is pond detritus. I didn’t see if he dropped this clump of leaves in flight or after he landed, but pretty soon he tried again.

Amazing photos Ellen! 👌👌
Thank you, Mabel!
Wonderful sequence of photos! The middle shot in particular.
Thank you, Belinda, glad that you liked them. The dive they take is really quite spectacular.