Steve Large Photography

Specializing in Avian and Wildlife Images

My Photo Stream – (Please click thumbnails to enlarge)

Aplomado Falcon Fly By
Another nice looking bird from the raptor demo at "The Raptors" in Duncan B.C.

Townsend's Warbler on Cedar
Another sunny day shot of one of my favorite birds.

Side View (Great Horned Owl)
Here is another image when the owl flew close by on its way from one perch to the other.

Owl of a Different Colour (Great Horned Owl))
This lovely owl was used in some of the flight demos at "The Raptors" raptor centre in Duncan on Sunday. A much lighter morf of horned owl than we are used to here on the coast.

Vulture Release (Turkey Vulture)
If you look close you can see the bird reflected in her sunglasses.

Marabou Stork in Flight
The marabou stork has one of the largest wingspans in the bird world reaching between 10 and 12 feet. Had a lot of fun and got some great shots today at "The Raptors" raptor centre in Duncan B.C.

Marabou Stork Portrait
Just when you thought that vultures looked pretty interesting. This image taken at "The Raptors" raptor centre in Duncan B.C. A special day for photographers put on by Sony Canada and London Drugs. Image taken full frame. Flickr folks please left click for more flavor and crispness.

Townsend's Warbler in Arbutus Tree
Found this guy in one of my favorite spots at Morrell Bird Sanctuary here in Nanaimo.

They're Back! (Black-Headed Grosbeak)
These guys have actually been around for a couple of weeks now. This is just the first opportunity I have had to get a shot of one in the open. They always seem to show up about the same time as the tanagers. You will often hear them singing before you see them with a distinct call that is somewhere between a robin's song and a combination of melodious whistles.

One For My Monitor (Sooty Grouse)
Couldn't resist using this image for my 27 inch monitor. Same branch as before but from a slightly different angle.

Back Tail Pattern (Sooty Grouse)
Here is a shot at a slightly different angle showing the beautiful patterns on the back of his tail.

Spanish Moss Sooty (Sooty Grouse)
All the bark and lichens got worn away on this branch. Must be one of his favorite perches to hoot from.

Heading Down Hill (Sooty Grouse)
This guy came right down to ground level and displayed quite close to me. No other photographers in sight at the time. See if you can find the fly?

Sooty Grouse Portrait
In this photo a male Sooty Grouse displays for the female. There were several hooting at the venue today. Went up for tanagers but this happened. Who knew?

Forgotten Frame (Great Horned Owl)
Here is one that I forgot to post from the Mother's Day shoot. Enjoy!

Pre-Capture Not Required (Downy Woodpecker)
Got a nice jump shot of a downy woodpecker in Linley Valley the other day.

Inquisitive Tanager (Western Tanager)
Had this guy come down to check me out on my walk through Linley Valley today. Lots more showing up now along with the usual black headed grosbeaks.

Interesting Wing Position #2 (Great Horned Owl)
Another one from the series taken on Sunday.

Interesting Wing Position (Great Horned Owl) May 12, 2025 Thanks For 6,000,000 Views!
Similar to the short-eared owl images last winter. Coming straight at the camera once again.

Side Shot (Great Horned Owl)
Got a couple of side shots of this guy on his way by. Had a good location on the side of the hill as he flew through the valley.

Blast Off! (Great Horned Owl)
If you look closely you can see chunks of bark being thrown off as the owl takes to the air.

Getting Ready To Launch (Great Horned Owl)
Over on the horned owl side of the ridge today.

Full Leaf Background (Barred Owl)
Here is an image with a somewhat better background. Flickr folks please left click for more detail.

Just Slipping Under The Alder Leaves (Barred Owl)
Went over to the barred owl side of the ridge at Linley Valley today to get some flight shots.

Black-Throated Grey Warbler
Taken near Enos Marsh in Nanoose Bay.

Surprise in Red and Black (Cinnabar Moth)
Have not seen these guys for a few years. Few and far between and only found where invasive ragwort plants grow. Amazing colors to see in person. Quite startling when they fly.

Coming Soon (Lazuli Bunting)
These guys should be showing up any day now in the interior and lower mainland of BC.

Juxtaposition (American Kestrel)
Here is the American kestrel female facing in the opposite direction.

Guarding The Nest Hole (American Kestrel)
The male American kestrel guards the nest hole after bringing in a fresh lizard for the female.

Male Kestrel Launch (American Kestrel)
Sorry about this one. The light was abysmal today.

Unexpected Meeting (Great Horned Owl)
Went looking for Townsend's warblers today and ended up finding a couple of horned owls. Who knew? I have been seeing a lot of images of horned owls out of Victoria lately. I am usually late for the party as it always seems to take me a while longer to find my own owls up here to shoot. Better late than never I guess 🙂

Mossy Perch (Townsend's Solitaire)
Went for a visit to Little Mountain yesterday and found this lovely Townsend's solitaire.

In a Forest Far, Far, Away (Great Grey Owl)
Looking forward to spring/summer owl shooting. Who knows? It may have already started.

Banking Over The Bulrushes (Tree Swallow)
A tree swallow flies down low over the bulrushes at Buttertubs Marsh.

First Swallow of Spring (Violet-Green Swallow)
Kind of a distant image but not too bad. Looking forward to more detailed closer images sometime this spring.

Screamin' Redwing 2025
My old buddy at Buttertubs Marsh. Always good value when there isn't a lot to shoot.

Softer Than a Rock (Sea Lion)
Some of the sea lions do get along and here is an example of one letting another use them as a pillow. Many of them were sleeping in the water and on the rocks at Neck Point Park on Saturday after gorging themselves on a recent herring run.

Stand Off on The Beach (Sea Lions)
A portrait version of the same two sea lions during their confrontation at Neck Point.

Beach Master (Sea Lion)
Hard to get this guy all in the frame. Even at 400mm. I have heard it said that some of them can reach 1200 pounds!

Hard Rock Pillow (Sea Lion)
After a big feeding of herring a sea lion rests high up on the rocks at Neck Point.

Temporary Disagreement (Sea Lions)
A young bull and a larger old bull, sometimes known as a "Beach Master" have a short lived argument over position on the rocks at Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.

Secret Message ( Short-Eared Owl)
See if you can find the word "No" in this image. Wonder if someone is trying to tell us something? I have not altered the image other than regular filtering and my usual work flow..

Wing and Back Detail (Northern Hawk Owl)
Another frame in a long sequence of the northern hawk owl. Shot a few weeks ago on the lower mainland.

Owl Post 2025 (Short-Eared Owl)
Barely had a chance to unfold my portable chair and sit down before this guy came gliding in from behind me and then proceeded to land on this post about 50 feet away. Flickr folks please left click for more detail.

Wings Down, My Favorite (Northern Hawk Owl)
Not quite as fast as a northern pygmy owl but still pretty quick!

Level Flight (Northern Hawk Owl)
A bit of a crop on this one but not too bad. Somewhat better background.

Prize Catch (Northern Hawk Owl)
A northern hawk owl rises up to a favorite perch after catching another unsuspecting vole.

Backyard Forager (Varied Thrush)
Lots of these guys flying around in my back yard now that some snow has come.

Brain Freeze (Short-Eared Owl)
After several failed attempts to catch a vole, this short-eared owl's face became caked with snow.

Totally Stumped Again (Short Eared Owl)
Lots of nice perches at the venue on Saturday. Flickr folks please left click for more detail.

High Key Background (Northern Hawk Owl)
Stopped by the northern hawk owl venue on Saturday for a couple of hours. Unfortunately he stayed up high and far away for most of the time with no opportunities for a decent background. Here is an ID shot anyway. Not too sure if I will be going over again this season. A person really needs to spend an entire day at each venue to get the best shots.

Screamin' Short-Ear (Short-Eared Owl)
Alan!......Alan!, Steve!......Steve! Actually everyone, it is more like a screeching cat. This shortie was letting his neighbor know that he was getting too close to his hunting territory.

The White Knight (Short-Eared Owl)
Probably the whitest short-ear I have ever seen.

After The Snow (Short-Eared Owl)
Looked a lot different after the snow squall moved through the area. The added light reflected from below was a welcome addition too.

Snow Day (Short-Eared Owl)
Here is another one with the short-ear flying in the opposite direction. Have never worked this venue in these conditions. Challenging but fun! Flickr Folks please left click for more detail.

Total White Out (Short-Eared Owl)
When a freak snow squall hits, a short-eared owl continues to hunt as the snow builds up on its face. Flickr Folks please left click for more detail.

Sunny Day Hawk Owl
Reworked this image from 2021. Taken up in the Comox Valley. I was the only one at the venue. Harsh light though.

Ears Up! (Short-Eared Owl)
This one taken of a short-eared owl a couple of weeks ago over on the mainland later in the afternoon.

Wingtip in Water (Harlequin Duck)
A male harlequin duck dips its wingtip in the water as it zips past me a Deep Bay.

Coming in For a Landing (long-Tailed Duck)
Sorry about this one. Came to the party a little late so all the long-tailed ducks were farther out from shore. Here a male starts to stall out as he prepares for a landing with the main flock

Winter Plumage (Horned Grebe)
The horned grebes were coming in quite close today at Deep Bay.

Looking Back (Short-Eared Owl)
Another perch shot in evening sunlight. Hard to believe that I have been photographing these guys for over 20 years now. I always look forward to these winter encounters with them as they have brought me a lot of joy over the years.

The Dark Female (Short-Eared Owl)
Love the wing position on this one. One of the cool things about short-eared owls is that they can range in colour like this bird from very dark to almost white. Generally speaking, the females are the darker birds and the males tend to be the lighter colored ones. It can be a real guessing game though depending on their location in the world and their environmental adaptation.

Resting in The Grass (Short-Eared Owl)
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Picture Tells a Story (Short-Eared Owl)
Lots of people out at the venue yesterday enjoying the calm conditions and good light. Flickr folks please left click for more detail.

Third Trip (Short-Eared Owl)
Here is an image from our third trip to the mainland yesterday. Still lots of shortie action to be had.

In Evening Sunlight (Short-Eared Owl)
A short-eared owl takes a break from hunting on a low piece of driftwood in the marsh.

Dreaming of Northern Hawk Owls
It has been raining steadily now for the past few days so I thought I would tidy up a couple of images from the archives with some new filtering. Here is one of a rather popular northern hawk owl taken in Maple Ridge BC back in 2019. I was reminded of him at Christmas as his face has made it onto a 2025 calendar given to me by my sister in-law as a gift.

Coming Straight at Me! (Again)
It's funny how short-eared owls tend to do that. Or any owl for that matter.

Last Flight of The Evening (Short-Eared Owl)
A lovely light colored male short-ear makes a final flight catching the last rays of sunlight on its underside as it glides past me.

Better Eye Contact (Northern Harrier)
They always seem to be looking down. Caught this image in a sequence where the male harrier glanced at us before gliding by while on his hunt.

Grey Ghost (Male Northern Harrier)
Had a short visit at the venue near the end of the day from the grey ghost. I have also heard the term "Grey Ghost" apply to a great grey owl as well. Must be confusing for some people.

Incoming! (Short-Eared Owl)
Another leftover from last month that never got posted. Must have just caught it in between showers judging by the raindrops. This one taken on the lower mainland at the end of November.

Female Short-Ear Portrait (Short-Eared Owl)
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Merry Christmas! (Snowy Owl)
I know that somewhere there will be a white Christmas this year. All the best of the Holiday Season to my Facebook and Flickr friends who tuned in and left comments and Faves in 2024

Propeller Bird 2024 (Short-Eared Owl)
I get one of these every now and then. Thought you might enjoy it.

December Bluebird (Mountain Bluebird)
A mountain bluebird, out of season, swoops down from a crabapple branch to snatch an unsuspecting bug.

Snowy Owl Environmental
A little something to break the monotony. Taken at Boundary Bay a gazillion years ago. A juvenile snowy owl flies low over the salt marsh during a hunt.

Waspinator (Northern Shrike)
On a sunny day at the Nanaimo Estuary, a northern shrike casts a long shadow as it hunts for hornets amongst the driftwood.

Taking a Break (Short-Eared Owl)
A light-feathered male short-eared owl perches atop an ancient stump in the salt marsh, taking a well-deserved rest following its hunt.

Wing Dip (Short-Eared Owl)
Thought this one was kind of pretty. With just a hint of environment.

Single White Male #2 (Short-Eared Owl)
A wings up version with more body detail and a somewhat tighter crop.

You Can Bank On It (Short-Eared Owl)
A male short-Eared Owl Makes a hard bank to the right during a hunt in the rain.

Single White Male (Short-Eared Owl)
This male bird is very white and has very little pigment in his body. The female short-ears are darker with more orange plumage.

Rainy Day Short-Ear (Short-Eared Owl)
It rained a bit at the venue yesterday but not enough to stop the short-eared owls from hunting and us from having a great time.

First Mainland Trip Since January (Short-Eared Owl)
Lots of shorties over on the mainland. I am very sore this morning from my trip but happy with the results. It is once again "The Year of The Short-Ear".

Out of Season (Mountain Bluebird)
An out-of-season mountain bluebird has been lingering around the venue for the past few weeks. This is a rare occurrence, as we typically see bluebirds only in the spring. Initially, it was presumed to be a female, but it is more likely an out-of-season juvenile male.

Interesting Head Position #2 (Short-Eared Owl)
The landscape Version.

Interesting Head Position (Short-Eared Owl)
Must have her eye on Pius who is standing farther along the hedgerow..

Say "Hi!" On Your Way By (Northern Harrier)
A female northern harrier gives us a casual glance as she glides by us at Nanaimo Estuary. I have often heard it said that harriers are the most owl like of all hawks. You can really see the resemblance in her face.

Watching Out For Ravens (Short-Eared Owl)
A female short-eared owl keeps a close watch on some ravens flying near by over her head.

Last Leaf of Autumn 2024 (Short-Eared Owl)
I really love some of the dynamic poses that short-eared owls make when they hunt.

Looking Back (Short-Eared Owl)
Loved the pastel colours in this one.

Short Ear Environmental (Short-Eared Owl)
A female short-eared owl flies low during a hunt over some colourful autumn swamp grass..

Flying Head (Short-Eared Owl)
Just when you thought that Halloween was over. Kind of looks like a flying Jack-o-lantern.

Full Frame Shot (Short-Eared Owl)
This image is not cropped in any way! Posted this to show how close you can get to a short-eared owl before you cut off the wings at 800mm. Did not have time to switch out the 2X on the 400mm. I may do the bare 400mm at a later time as a comparison but it would probably be just marginally sharper. I may even be able to manipulate it a bit more in post to make it indiscernible from the bare lens. Flickr folks please left click for full detail.

Autumn Leaf Background 2024 (Short-Eared Owl)
This owl flew straight at us as we stood out at the venue today. Totally unexpected and no time to change out my 2X teleconverter. Had to do a few acrobatics to try to keep it in the frame. The most fun shooting in a long time! Flickr folks please left click for more detail.

Extremely Close Encounter (Short-Eared Owl)
Pius and I had a great time out at the venue today. Almost got run down by a short-eared owl. Have only had a couple of experiences like this in the past but not for many years. He was so intent on hunting that he did not see us until he was 15 to 20 feet away before finally veering off. Flickr folks please left click for maximum detail.