One of the many variables one must deal with when photographing birds at takeoff is direction of flight. If it’s to our right or left we have the potential of getting some interesting flight shots. If it’s away from us all we get is butt shots. If it’s toward us we face the technical challenges of maintaining focus on the relatively low profile of a fast-approaching subject.
In my experience raptors seldom make that third choice but when they do the results can be images that are quite appealing, partly because you’re very likely to get good eye contact. That’s especially true with big-eyed owls.
1/3200, f/5, ISO 1250, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
Two days ago I spent quite a while photographing this adult Short-eared Owl as it hunted voles from an old wooden fence post. When it took off after prey it would reliably return to the same post or one right next to it. Usually it took off to my right or my left or away from me but this time it spotted something in the grass across the road from me to my right (I was shooting from my pickup) so it took off almost exactly in my direction. Obviously this is the moment it left the perch. I like that huge wingspan, the extended legs as they push off from the post and the focus of the owl on its quarry.
And that focus was complete. The owl obviously didn’t care that I was there because it flew right over the hood of my pickup, barely above my eye level, as it crossed the road. Seeing the bird so close to my windshield is a sight I won’t soon forget. And I was lucky enough to get quite a few sharp, unclipped shots as it approached me. I’ll likely post that series of images sometime next week.
I suspect that some of my readers may be beginning to grow weary all the Short-eared Owl images I’ve been posting recently and I understand that. But this late spring has been a bonanza for these owls like I can’t remember so I feel like I have to take advantage of the situation while it lasts. I don’t want to look back and wish I’d spent more time with them than I did.
And I can only post what I shoot…
Ron
Love short-eared owls. Can’t get enough photos
Great images Ron! No such thing as too many Short-eared owl photos 🙂
Thanks very much, Ed.
I totally get what you’re saying about the raptor flying away from you. Here in Arizona they are generally on a tall Saguaro or taller-yet, a metal power-tower. They look like pimples they are so high up. I’m sure you can see how much I enjoy your pictures!! I have hundreds of belly shots! Haha!
Belly shots and butt shots – staples of our trade, Linda!
Beautiful, I never tire of Short-eared owls, especially juveniles. I am jealous, I can’t get out this weekend. I had planned too but am having a health issue that has me grounded. I wish you could attach the sounds, fresh cool morning air and early sun to your posts.
Dang, that’s REALLY too bad, April. I remember how bummed I used to be when I was teaching and then get sick over a weekend or holiday. It happened all too often. Best wishes for a very quick recovery!
Ron,
Thank you for the beautiful owl shots, today and yesterday. Never seen a fledgling, thank you for that. Beautiful!
Dick
“Never seen a fledgling”
I’d never seen a fledgling at this stage of development until just a few days ago, Richard. And I’ve seen a bunch more since. Thank you.
There is just so much to love about this image – the wooden fence post, the background, and of course the owl. Your patience pays off, once again.
I’m with you, Linda. I sure prefer the old wooden posts over the metal ones. Got some of both this morning…
Never weary of Short-eared Owls any more than I am of Kingfishers, Burrowing Owls, raptors of any sort, etc. These are beautiful birds, and the photo you posted is a simply gorgeous portrait. I like the same things about it that you do, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of this bird.
“I’m looking forward to seeing more of this bird”
That’ even more likely to happen now, Susan – I photographed the same bird this morning. Thank you.
“Too many shots of short-ears is barely enough! What a thrill it must have been to see that owl so close!!!
Patty, some of these owls are amazingly sticky and others are as skittish as they can be. Go figure…
YES. And to be tired of owls is to be tired of life…
“Damn that truck is in the way of that Vole I saw on his other side, he won’t mind if I use his truck as a blind and fly right over the hood and see if that vole is still there, or whatever else I can scare up!!”
Tack sharp, great image, I never tire of putting a caption to many of your shots! It is just pain FUN! If it is worth doing it is worth doing well, and that is your motto! None of us will ever tire of that commitment!
Dick, I had another owl that did the same thing this morning, only this time it flew right over the bed of my pickup instead of the hood as it went after a vole on the other side of the road.
And you can caption away to your heart’s content!
LOVE!!!! Hope to come to Utah!!! I have never seen s short eared owl here in junction . and I’m out 3 days a week looking. As always I wish my pictures looked more like yours.
Marina, SEO’s are funny that way. You don’t see any in a particular area for many years and then suddenly they’re present in good numbers. “Nomadic” describes them very well.
Yeah, I’m gonna agree with Zaphir Shamma, but I’d add like too many puppies, too 🙂 And quit apologizing! Just stop that!
Again, I love the detail. There’s an outrageous intensity of focus in a raptor’s gaze that’s just beyond words. The only thing I’ve seen that comes close is that of a racer’s eyes, but even that is just a tad less than that of a raptor.
Once again, the baffling on the trailing edge of that bird’s wing feathers is clear. What an amazing adaptation. And then, there’s the overall beauty. Just WOW!
And no, I’m not ever bored with the delights you share every morning. Quite the contrary. It’s such a joy and a blessing to wake to the magic you bring to us every day. Thank you!
“Once again, the baffling on the trailing edge of that bird’s wing feathers is clear”
Laura, I got a shot of an owl earlier this week that shows that baffling very, very well. Hopefully I’ll post that shot soon. Not sure I really understand the role of that baffling though…
Well, for one thing, it disturbs the airflow over the wing to disrupt and diminish the sound for silent flight (stealth mode). I learned about that process way back in my racing days from folks who install their wings upside down for pity’s sake 🙂 But that said, I’m sure there are other reasons we don’t know. Nothing in Nature is all that simple and we just don’t know what we don’t know. LOL!
Thanks, Laura. I knew about baffling in race cars but if I knew it about birds I’d forgotten it.
Yeah, I know about that forgetting thing. If I turn my head, stuff falls out. Could be what I had for breakfast on October, 12, 1973, could be my name!
I know there’s a good word to describe that fringing/feathering/raggedetyness on the trailing edge of their wings, but I can never remember what it is–and none of those words really work. The fringing on the trailing edge of the wings is not something racers use, but many owl species have developed it over the eons for silent flight. Perhaps the best example are barn owls. Here’s a good video, although it doesn’t explain the physics of it. It does illustrate just how silent their flight is compared to a pigeon and a peregrine: Barn owl silent flight: http://tinyurl.com/zonsyw5
Racers want the air to escape cleanly, getting off the wing as rapidly as possible as it sticks the car to the ground. Overall, they don’t much care about the noise factor (although that’s becoming a bigger deal these days).
I’m pretty familiar with the fringing on owl flight feathers and its function. When you mentioned “baffling” I thought you might be referring to the “waves” I sometimes see across a wing when I’m looking at it from the side when it’s in a horizontal position. That’s what I noticed in another shortie flight shot I took recently.
Doesn’t bore me in the least! 🙂 Beautiful shot, Ron! 🙂 Their wing span is always amazing. What a treat to have it cross in front of your windshield! 🙂 Of course, had you been moving the feeling would have been MUCH different! 🙂
“Of course, had you been moving the feeling would have been MUCH different”
It sure would have, Judy – especially since I found a road killed shortie at my shooting spot yesterday morning.
Too many Shorties is like too much money, too much pie or too many kitties…not gonna happen 🙂 Keep those owls coming Ron!!!
Zaphir, I received your comment as an email while I was driving north at o-dark o’clock this morning and enjoyed it so much that I read it aloud to Mia. Thanks.
Great photo! Never Bored… always find your photos & writings informative.
Thank you for sharing.
I’m glad to hear that you enjoy them both, Cal. Thanks.