Long-eared Owl

While out birding on a cold & sunny winter day, a large bird blasted out of a conifer 10ft from me and took off. I decided to then take a wide sweep around the other trees, trying not too flush anything else. I happened to look over my shoulder and locked eyes with this gorgeous owl maybe 20ft away, glaring at me. With my camera already out I took some shots, and after maybe 60 seconds slowly stepped back to move away, not wanting to bother it, but ended up stepping on a stick, which snapped, and the owl took off in an instant... Happy to have witnessed this beautiful owl, not happy with my unintentionally interrupting it's nap time.