Females usually darker, and if it was viewed from the front, you would see more spots on the female...plus with this one, I know the pair, the male is ringed, and the female isnt..
This one is the female of this pair..
Great image matie, theres a few here, and in the summer a couple of long eared too..always good to see owls, I have squeaked barn owls in, but have never managed shorties
Good one, is it a one off that its come here, or do they come every year??
The 500mm would definitely help with that distance, what camera you got matie?