Bird of the Day, theme 'Awesomeowls'

natureAug 20, 20261193,602

Today's Bird of the Day theme is Awesomeowls, asking for any owl from the two owl families, with an alternate theme BirdNameG. The gallery features mostly field photos plus a few captivity shots and hand-drawn pieces, focusing on owl portraits, hunting or flying scenes, and closeups of plumage and eyes. Standout entries include a Long-eared owl sighting, a Short-eared owl flyby, and a Burrowing owl caught in a confrontational pose. Also look for a snowy owl showing its plumage pattern, an African Spotted Eagle Owl photographed in captivity, and colored pencil and watercolor owl artworks.

Helen Bennett 🌿

@helenbennett.bsky.social

Hello 👋 I adore Owls so today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is: #AwesomeOwls 😊🦉 Any owl from the two owl families. Here's a gorgeous Long-eared owl that I was fortunate enough to see 🤎 📷 🪶 Alt: #BirdNameG any bird whose common name starts with the letter G! Happy Thursday 🕊️ #Nature #Photography #ECK

A photograph showing a long-eared owl that is perched at an angle on a textured tree branch, facing right against a blurred green background. The owl features a prominent facial disc with a white, vertical stripe between its vivid orange eyes, a black beak, and long, dark ear tufts which are flattened against its head. Its plumage is a dense mix of brown, black, grey, and tan feathers, with a warm rufous coloration visible on its chest. The owl's talons are gripped firmly onto the rough bark of the vertical branch, and its lower wings are partially extended downward, showing a barred pattern of tan and dark brown bands. The owl had been hunting in the adjacent fields just before dusk and its feathers underneath are slightly wet. His gaze is fixed intently in to the distance ready to launch in flight again.

3069h ago

Atlantic Birding2

Gorgeous shot Helen; great themes

Grumpy 💙 European 🪶1

Fantastic shot, and I love it. The pose is striking, and the view opens up the mental image space a lot to the right. Superb.

Marjo Slingerland-Boks1

Good morning Helen, What a wonderful themes special the first on🦉 need to to look for one😅 Have a fine day ✨️☕️

James Petruzzi1

That's quite a profile, love it!

Pirritin1

Gorgeous capture and the theme Helen 🤩 Love the owls

AnnaLois1

I love them too Helen! Need to find some photos now 😀

HLK

@hlkfotos.com

Short-eared owl flyby. #BirdOfTheDay #AwesomeOwls 📷🌿🪶🦉

A photo of a short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) in flight, flying toward the left of frame, with its head turned looking toward the camera. It is a medium-sized owl with brown and cream barred plumage, a round face, very short ear tufts, and bright golden-yellow eyes. The lighting is soft and diffuse, in the evening, and the background is blurred autumn foliage in browns and oranges.

2587h ago

Alan H

@alan678.bsky.social

Good morning, Helen has said: Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is: #AwesomeOwls 😊🦉 Any owl from the two owl families. Alt: #BirdNameG any bird whose common name starts with the letter G! Only have a couple of grainy captivity owl shots, so it’s the alt for me. #birds #photography #ECK

A European Goldfinch perched on a diagonal metal bar, shown in close-up against a soft, dark grey background. Its vivid red face, black-and-white head markings, warm golden-brown plumage and pale breast are clearly visible, with its delicate feet gripping the bar. The bird looks alert, facing left, with its long black-and-white tail hanging below the perch.

2447h ago

Helen Bennett 🌿1

Fabulous close up shot my friend👍🤗 I was hoping for some Goldfinches today, they are beautiful birds 🫶

Marjo Slingerland-Boks1

Gold finches are so lovely with their colors 😍 Lovely photo and a good morning Alan.🤗😘

Glynis R1

Perfection. I really am in awe of this capture Alan. 👏🏻

fozziefotos.eurosky.social1

Beautiful capture and the grey background is such a super contrast 😍👌

Gen Existential Crisis1

I only have photos of captive owls, as well. 😂👊🏻 G bird it is. Nice shot, Alan

Hel Jel1

Lovely colours in a goldcrest!

Rina

@rina2012.bsky.social

"Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is: #AwesomeOwls Alt: #BirdNameG" A snowy owl with a beautiful plumage pattern 🪶 And aren’t those eyes beautiful? 😍 #birds #photography #nature #naturephotography #thelittlethings #ECK

A front-facing portrait of a snowy owl, looking directly into the camera with its dark beak slightly open, as if it were calling out. The bird has brilliant white plumage with dense, dark brown patches on its breast and wings. Its large, round eyes shine an intense golden-yellow. The background is blurred and consists of lush, green foliage.

2097h ago

Amy Gann

@amygann.bsky.social

Burrowing owl shakes fist at those kids that had the audacity to walk on his lawn. For the #birdoftheday theme of #awesomeowls #birds #owl #burrowingowl #protectnature #EastCoastKin

A burrowing owl with one foot raised and its head scrunched down
While it looks annoyed, it was stretching in the morning sun

1197h ago

Aj d'Wit (Audrey)1

A truly fantastic photo. Love it, and love Owls. 😍 Great photography. 👌🏼

Atlantic Birding

@atlanticbirding.bsky.social

🪶 Helen has chosen #AwesomeOwls as today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme; any Owl from either family. The alt. is #BirdNameG; any bird with name starting with ‘G’ I have this shot of an African Spotted Eagle Owl, taken in captivity in Spain. #birdphotography #ECK #birds #photography #birdsofbluesky #nature

An African Spotted Eagle Owl perched on a sandstone wall. The bird is left of centre of frame, perched on a wall that travels along the bottom of the shot.
The bird has grey-brown plumage, covered in pale spots. It has a white patch of father on its throat. It underparts are white with grey-brown bars. It has bright yellow eyes and a grey brown facial disk; with black lines defining the left and right sides. Its ear tufts are visible over each eye
The bird is facing the camera and looking upward. It is standing in front of a large sandstone slab, which covers the left side of the image. To the right the wall disappears and several upright, backless tree trunks can be seen, forming a fence.

1108h ago

Alan H1

Great shot AB. I have just two awful owl captures. 😂

Helen Bennett 🌿1

Gorgeous... I've not seen this species before. What a stunner!

Emmanuel E.1

𝗪𝗼𝘄, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘁! 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲. 👏

Aj d'Wit (Audrey)1

There’s just something about Owls, they are impressive birds. Nice photo. 👍🏼

Neil Cameron

@neilcam57.bsky.social

Helen Bennett 's #BirdOfTheDay theme is: #AwesomeOwls Sadly, I've only ever shot 1 species: imm. Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua), St Lucia, Brisbane, Australia #ECK #birds #birdphotography #birdsofbluesky #wildlife #nature #Photography #Nikon #PhotographersUnited

An immature Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua) peers down from high in a eucalypt tree at St Lucia, Brisbane. The bird has its back to the camera and shows the banding brown colour more reminiscent of an adult. Similarly, with the facial mask. However, the bird is clearly not yet mature as it shows it's brilliant white down in many places. Not least of which is around its large yellow talons.

997h ago

Helen Bennett 🌿1

Wow, just look at those eyes! Great image Neil 🤩👏

Emmanuel E.1

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲! 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗳𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗢𝘄𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱—𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗷𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁. 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗲.

Nigel Bell 🍉1

That particular Powerful Owl breeding pair (& offspring) are *so photographed* - they've started petitioning the UofQ Senate for assistance against paparazzi. Sadly, as their communications keep getting confused for merely being partially chewed Ringtails, their campaign remains somewhat stalled. 🙁

Amy Gann1

It is gorgeous. Lovely shot, Neil!

Sandy Horne1

I've shot three species - but not the powerful owl. Yet.

Glynis R1

A powerful owl is on my list. I have photographed a beautiful rehabilitated female at O’Reilly’s, but none fully wild. This one is adorable Neil

Dave Meredith

@davemeredith.bsky.social

Today's alternative #BirdOfTheDay theme is #BirdNameG. A grumpy looking male Evening Grosbeak on the #BrucePeninsula, Ontario. #BruceCounty #ECK #photography #birds #nature #wildlife #TenMinutesFromHome #BackyardPhotography #VintageLens #ManualFocus

855h ago

Kis Brink2

Wonderful. That bird somehow seems to look as grumpy as all get out. He should be an honorary owl and or heron.

Helen Bennett 🌿1

Wonderful shot,Dave... he dies look a bit angry! 👍✨️

qtipsanon.bsky.social1

QtipsANON. 'Are you lookin' at me?'

The Garden Jungle

@thegardenjungle.bsky.social

The #BirdOfTheDay theme for today is #AwesomeOwls, all Owls are awesome in my opinion and so photogenic. Here is a Boobook Owl for you with a beautiful side pose #birds #thegardenjungle #wildlifephotography #birdwatching #shropshire #UKwildlife #birdphotography #canon #photography

917h ago

Helen Bennett 🌿1

Fabulous capture 👏👏 I had the joy of seeing a Boobook when I visited Australia... wonderful owls! 🤎

Aj d'Wit (Audrey)1

A truly splendid capture of a magnificent bird. 👍

Rob Crank Photography

@robcrank68.bsky.social

Good morning folks. It's @helenbennett.bsky.social turn to host #BirdOfTheDay and her themes are #AwesomeOwls, any Owl from the 2 Owl families. The Alt theme is #BirdNameG, any bird whose common name starts with G. #birds #ECK @rspb.bsky.social #CanonR5mkii #ukbirding #BirdLife #photography

Gary Green Woodpecker was surprised to see the paparazzi walk round the corner, with their lenses primed and ready to take his photo before he'd brushed his plumage.
So he shouted at them to wait until he was ready, but those damned paparazzi never listen because that doesn't get them their stories.
So Gary didn't hang around long because he doesn't like those who don't listen to him, sorry but not sorry Gary 😂

Captured at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.

743h ago

Aj d'Wit (Audrey)1

Another fine set, Rob. Reckon I'm a little partial to the Owl though. 😍

Barrie Cull

@barrie6.bsky.social

Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme chosen by a Helen is: #AwesomeOwls 😊🦉 Any owl from the two owl families. An excellent theme, but I don’t have any good owl photos, so instead I’ve found a coloured pencil drawing of a Tawny Owl which I did a few years ago. I hope you like it.

A coloured pencil drawing of a Tawny Owl standing on a tree stump. It has brown and white feathers.

777h ago

ChrQue

@chrisqhq.bsky.social

Guess who won this staring contest. Not me… #birdoftheday #awesomeowls Little Owl / Steinkauz (Südhessen) #birds #vögel #käuze #steinkauz #littleowl #eulen

A small roundish brown owl with yellow eyes, looking directly into the camera. On its back it has white spots and above the eyes prominent white "eyebrows". It sits on a branch between green and red leaves of an apple tree.

678h ago

Helen Bennett 🌿1

Beautiful photo 👌✨️ Little owls are a favourite! 😊

Heike W (she/her)1

What a nice photo. Great shot.

Tony Allen-Mills

@taminf.bsky.social

For the #AwesomeOwls theme of today's #BirdoftheDay by @helenbennett.bsky.social, I had to dig into my archives for this Barred Owl in New Jersey's Great Swamp. There are plenty of French owls, but I think they all hate me. They all hide whenever I'm around... #photography #birds

606h ago

Laurette

@laurette1.bsky.social

Gulls at Shottermill Pond. #BirdoftheDay #BirdNameG #SurreyHills #Reflections #Photography

463h ago

Kort Duce

@kortduce.bsky.social

A great horned owl perches in a tree near my home in Longmont, Colorado. #BirdOfTheDay #AwesomeOwls #BirdNameG #bird #birds #light #birdphotography #ECK #BirdsSeenln2026 #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography

Photo by Kort Duce

A great horned owl perches in a tree near my home in Longmont, Colorado.

In this vertical color photograph, a great horned owl fills the frame as it faces the camera and looks down toward the viewer. The owl is perched on a slanted tree branch that enters the frame from the bottom left and extends upward, exiting near the middle right. The tree’s main trunk stands to the left of the owl, with smaller branches extending in all directions. The background is filled with lush green leaves, with subtle hints of gray from the overcast sky filtering through the foliage.

A beautiful portrait of a great horned owl in its natural prairie habitat, an ecosystem vital to its existence.

532h ago

jobeth.bsky.social1

Beautiful 🦉 Here’s a hawk hanging out in my yard.

Emmanuel E.1

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲! 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘄𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗻𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲. 🦉

Bird of the Day, theme 'Awesomeowls'nature

Bird of the Day, theme 'Awesomeowls'

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