I'm always loath to pack up and head back to the car at the end of my outings because something else is bound to turn up as soon as I can't get to my equipment. Sure enough, as I was digging in my jacket for my keys, I saw something quite large launch from the ground into a tree down by the lake. Luckily I chose to keep the camera and 300-500 zoom on the tripod until I got back to the car. I decided check it out since there was still a few minutes before the sun dropped below the horizon. Sneaking along the tree line and pretending I had other intentions I was able to find the bulky sillouette in the tree. I assumed it was a Red-Tailed Hawk. Angling toward it's tree I kept facing the lake and watching it from the corner of my eye. OHMYGOSH!!! NOT A HAWK AT ALL; but a Barred Owl. Holding my breath all the way, I managed to get under another tree to set down the tripod and started snapping. I knew the owl would not tolerate my close proximity for long; it was obviously tense. It must have been a good spot, though, because it was just as hesitant to leave. Thankfully, it let me get several shots before it had had enough of me. This made my day; Even though I didn't have time adjust the camera settings.

This would have been a good time to have those dark ominous clouds in the background. lol