Like most everyone else I’m a huge fan of Burrowing Owls.
1/1600 f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I photographed this one last May on Antelope Island where they usually perch on the ground or on sagebrush so I was happy with the variety of catching this one on green rabbitbrush. It was a cloudy morning so I didn’t have a lot of light and had to go to ISO 800 with the Canon 7D which pushes its limitations.
1/1600 f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I include this shot because (as I mentioned recently) I’m beginning to prefer images of owls where the bird isn’t looking directly at the photographer. I also like the one-legged stance which implies that the bird was comfortable with my presence (in my pickup).
When I noticed another vehicle approaching I suspected it might take off so I quickly removed my teleconverter to (hopefully) give me enough room in the frame for the extended wings and more shutter speed.
1/3200, f/4.5, ISO 800, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM, NR applied to background, not baited, set up or called in
It didn’t work. As you can see I clipped both wings but that’s a result I prefer over a blurry bird.
So far this spring I’m seeing more Burrowing Owls on the island than I have this early in previous years so I hope that’s an indicator of good things to come – for me and for the owls.
Ron
Note: Originally I identified this perch as greasewood and had it labeled as such in my title. It isn’t greasewood, it’s rabbitbrush so I’ve edited my post. One of the problems with blogging is that when you make a fool of yourself you do it so very publicly…
wow, and for me as well, first time to see a BUOW in flight!
thanks..magical, as always, your photos
Cheers!
Karen, I just wish I’d got ALL of this one in flight. Maybe next time. Thank you.
Thanks, Ron. Never saw a live one but your photos make them almost “real”.
Thank you, Diana.
Ooh and ahhh.
Part of the reason I love the burrowing owls so much is their expressive faces. Yes, I know, anthromorphism at work. Again.
They are stunners though.
And I really, really hope that this year is good to them and you.
“Part of the reason I love the burrowing owls so much is their expressive faces.”
They sure do have expressive faces, EC – especially the juveniles. They’re fascinating and entertaining subjects to photograph.
These are lovely photos, Ron, and I wish you and the burrowing owls many successful seasons! I hope the reason for their declining numbers can be identified and dealt with effectively…
Thank you, Alison.
Ron – great photos of the perched bird. Yeah the wings were clipped but still a good pic. We have had one Burrowing Owl sighted here near Denver – out north of the airport (DIA). That is the usual spot to see them close to the city – but it seems to be very early this year. We have a lot of snow on the ground – hope it is in survival mode.
They’re a bit early here too, Mark. And I think that more of them than usual stuck around for the winter in my area. Thank you.
Great series made even greater by your anticipation! Yes, the wings are a bit clipped but you captured the takeoff and the beauty of the “whole” bird.
I’ve been finding a few nesting sites over the past few days and have learned to look for “hovering” owls (can look like kestrels at a distance). Hope our owls and yours have a successful breeding season!.
Yes, watching for them hovering is a good tactic, Wally. I think many folks miss them, in flight or on the ground, because Burrowing Owls are smaller than most folks expect them to be.
I am so happy to hear that their numbers may be increasing. That is not the case here in NM…. fingers crossed!
They’re generally declining throughout the west, Deborah. Lots of research going on to try to figure out why.
Great shots Ron. I too like the side shots and have not seen any other flight shots. I wouldn’t have thought to take off the
tc and it ended up being a great shot anyway. Bonnie said the Antelope Island nesting success was not very good last year (at least on the East side) and they are doing a study of East side vs West side to try and determine if it is predation, bison tranpling, human disturbance, or other factors that is causing the problem. Will be interesting to see what they find out.
I hope they find out what’s going on, Larry. I have suspicions that it might be at least partly disturbance. I’ve seen some folks doing unconscionable things around their burrows. Thank you.
It’s really nice to see a flight shot, despite the clipped wings. This is the first time I’ve seen a flight shot of a Burrowing Owl. I, too, hope they do well this year – and that you can get lots of good photos of them.
I saw one on the island this morning, Susan. Too far away and they’re still pretty shy but I have hopes for the future.
Oh my goodness .. how darling is this little guy!!!! Fabulous captures!!! Thanks for the smiles, Ron!!!
Thank you very much, Lois.
This is a species I’m not familiar with. Thanks!
Hope you get to see one some day, Arwen.
Just wonderful. Great shots.
The eyes are nice but I also prefer the side image cause I find them a bit intimidating. And I am not a vole…
Hope you are right and this will be the season/year of the owls.
Thank you.
Jorge, yes, those owl eyes can bore right through the viewer and I enjoy a side look more as time goes by.
Love these images Ron! Beautiful background separation. The third shot I see your shutter speed at 1/3200 sec. Do you find it necessary for birds in flight?
“Do you find it necessary for birds in flight?”
Depends, Gary. For most birds in flight, no. But for small birds, if you want the wings sharp with no motion blur, generally yes. The smaller the bird the faster the wings are. Burrowing Owls are quite small and their wings are like buzz saws. It’s complicated with lots of variables but that’s the short answer.
Great shots Ron, love the one flying, especially the color and precise flecking under the wing!
Now, if I can just figure out how I can engineer a carving! VBG!
Thanks, Dick. I could never be a carver – their “shutter speeds” are much too slow…
Absolutely sensational series Ron! Thanks for sharing!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.