OPENING SHOT Curious onlooker Photo: by Bill Sincavage Gear: Nikon Z9 Settings: 1/1000 sec, f/5.6, ISO 560 G reat gray owls are elusive and difficult to find. Often called the ghost of the forest, their locations are often a well-kept secret. In Wyoming most sightings are in the Tetons or Yellowstone National Park. However, on several occasions I've been fortunate to encounter them in the forests around Dubois. On this snowy morning I was in search of moose when I came upon this great gray owl sitting on a stump in a clearing next to the road. Owls generally perch next to open fields looking for rodents or other food sources. As it sat there I got some nice shots, but my ultimate hope was to catch it in flight. Hoping it would take off soon, I increased the shutter speed and waited. I didn't have to wait long, only about 10 minutes. Suddenly it left its perch and flew right by me, just above eye level as I gleefully held down the shutter button. The real bonus was when I got home and looked at the sequence on the computer. To my surprise I also captured a red fox in the background. I had no idea it was there. If the owl flew in any other direction, I wouldn't have seen it. 6 | December 2022