An amateur photographer has captured an incredible optical illusion with an animal perfectly blending into the bark of a tree – but can you see it?
The impressive snap features a great grey owl, expertly camouflaged.
Look closely and you’ll spot the bird’s inquisitive eyes near the top middle of the tree, with its body barely visible in the various shades of grey.
Edsel Batuigas, who took the images, has been a hobby photographer for 13 years, focusing mainly on wildlife and with a keen passion for owls.
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“Owls are very interesting subjects, they have very expressive faces,” the Vancouver native told NeedToKnow.co.uk.
“They have the ability to camouflage in their surroundings.
“It is challenging to find them and very rewarding when you see one.”
The photo was taken in British Columbia on 7 April with Edsel’s Nikon D850, with a 200-500mm lens and 300mm lens.
The great grey owl is one of the biggest of its species in North America and is common in the area but difficult to find due to their expert hiding skills.
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Edsel said: “I’ve waited for more than an hour just to get the shots I wanted.
“The picture was taken in the first week of April to which the Great Grey Owl just started nesting.
“During this time there are only two adult owls in the area.
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“The female owl incubates the eggs while her partner brings food to her.
“It felt so great to get the shots I wanted.
”The nest was about 100m from the forest road, with binoculars my friends and I scanned the trees for potential nests and hit a jackpot when
the owl’s head moved and looked at us.”
There’s also a harrowing reason why the tree has such a strong grey colour.
Edsel added: “In the summer of 2021 there was a huge fire in the area.
”Most of the trees were burnt to the ground and most wildlife left the area including the great grey owls.
“Luckily they’re back.
“With lush green vegetation in the forest ground, small mammals like voles and squirrels [also] thrive.
“Voles are the main food for the owls in this area.”
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