Usually I find birds to be reluctant to give me interesting poses but in this group of young Burrowing Owls posing seemed to be contagious.
On this day nearly five years ago I had a truly delightful session with an entire family of Burrowing Owls in Box Elder County. I don’t remember how many youngsters there were but there was a bunch of them enjoying the morning sun as they perched on and near an old fence in the vicinity of their burrow.
I captured lots of interesting photos that morning but I’ve been hesitant to post too many of them because I quickly tire of the boring tan backgrounds we get so often around here in summer. Hopefully the interesting poses from such appealing young birds compensate for the boring backgrounds. I posted some of these photos back in 2016.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Interesting poses seemed to come in bunches. I spent a lot of time twiddling my thumbs because not much was happening but eventually this young bird broke out into a long, languid wing and leg stretch while ‘he’ was balancing on one foot.
His performance seemed to inspire one of his nearby siblings perched on a…
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
gnarly old fence post nearby. This second bird did almost exactly the same thing but with his body turned at a different angle to me so the photos look completely different.
But this bird wasn’t through posing yet.
1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
He started to preen and when he ran some of his mantle feathers through his bill he pulled one of them all the way up to his right eye. For some reason the pose appeals to me.
1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
He finished off with this unusual pose. I don’t often like photos of birds with their eyes closed but I like this one.
For almost five years now I’ve been checking the area of their old burrow every time I drive by it, which is often, but I haven’t seen any burrowing owls there since. Maybe this spring will be different.
Hope springs eternal.
Ron
Awesome series of shots. It looks like owl yoga class. They all made me smile, last one especially the last one. Thanks for sharing these.
I love burrowing owls in all their poses!. Their habitat though is disappearing in the desert north of Phoenix because of all the development.
Their habitat is disappearing in a whole lot of places, Pat.
Who knew Owls could be hams? Thanks for the Sunday funnies.
Well,,, I knew. Thanks, Lyle.
Delight! Delight! Delight! Thank you for sharing these shots today. I wonder if wing stretches are “contagious” in owls in the same way that yawning is for humans. The last image needs to be an illustration in a children’s book. 🙂
Denver and Boulder are getting pounded with a record blizzard right now. I hope that you guys have it a little easier. Sorry we sent such an obnoxious storm your way.
Marty, most of your storm went south of us but St. George got a record amount. But of course for them it doesn’t take much to break a record. We mostly got rain here in the valley.
What a wonderful bunch of photos, Ron. I’m chuckling and cooing and smiling and thoroughly enjoying all the poses. (These help me to get over my annual day of crabbiness and forget about daylight savings time!)
Nina, you’re a near-saint if you only have one day of crabbiness every year. I sometimes have two or three of them in the same day…
Ah, well, sounds like my crabbiness frequency is on par with yours. It’s just that no matter how much i try to remain stoic about this asinine time-changing routine, i get worked up. So, i know i’ll be crabby every year, on this day.
(Even on my best days, I’ve never been anywhere near being a saint!)
Oh Professor, I am so sad. Did you not recognize Mahatma Owldhi in that last photo? He is in the asana Owlysna. 😀
Nope, I didn’t recognize Mahatma, Arwen. Gotta get these damn cataracts fixed…
Lovely and so entertaining. You were so lucky to get one relaxed and behaving naturally! They are not often close enough for me with my equipment. Maybe one day!
April, I really hope that sometime you can get the photo gear you really want.
They are adorabowls! OK, too much? Every single pose is a winner so I’m glad you dug them out of your treasure chest to post today. I’m feeling a little yucky (achy w/ some chills) after my 2nd Moderna shot yesterday, so some happy (and perhaps sleepy) little burrowing owls are a welcome wake-up for me.
Nope, not too much, Chris. I like ‘adorabowls’ because it fits and I don’t think it’s too smarmy.
Love them all 😍 The last one is my favorite..talon clinched… eyes closed. I’m imagining he’s enjoying this moment ❗️
Hoping you had a successful day today 😁
I actually did have a successful morning in the field, Diana – assuming my photos are sharp. Haven’t yet had time to check them.
I have scrolled down, I have scrolled up, I have scrolled down again. And my smiles are threatening to split my face. I am envious of their stretching and balancing prowess too.
Thank you.
Don’t wear your mouse out, EC! But good, I’m glad you like them.
❤️👏
Thanks, Patty. I’ve been hoping you’re doing OK…
Love these pictures great Sunday morning treat!
Good. Thanks, Theresa.
I am also profoundly hoping they come back this year, and the shorties, too. The year you shot these was a very good year. Thanks for the hope. (Stupid DS time change)
Agree on both things, Suzanne – it was a very good year and DS time is a pain in the patoot.
Having lived only on the east coast or in the midwest (aka “heartland” during election years) I really enjoy seeing all of the shades of brown you westerners get to enjoy! That background is perfect! Hokey Pokey Owl gets my vote.
Hokey Pokey Owl it is, Diane. Thanks.
You caught so much personality in these little guys. Any other background would have been too much. Thanks for delighting my morning!
Jamila, there may be no other bird with more personality than young Burrowing Owls.
An incredible series!!
Went looking for a Burrowing owl yesterday at Pt. Isabel (also a dog park) and DID NOT SEE HIM (dunno if him or her)… will try again next week
🤞🤞🤞
Thanks, Nicky.
I love these. Fantasic!!! The “boring” brown background works so perfectly here…so it’s not boring at all,
I try to like these backgrounds, Joanne but I’ve seen far too many of them.
Hope does spring eternal and spring will be there for you when you head out Saturday morning. Excellent series Ron. All are keepers, but I especially like #4 the sleepy eyed balancing act. Each look like paid fashion models hired to pose for you.
Happy Daylight Savings and empathy from we Arizonians who don;t have to run around the house changing all those clocks.
Grumble, Grumble, Grumble Lucky you! 😉
Thanks, Everett. I still haven’t changed my clocks but plan to do it soon, IF if can figure out how to do it in the new pickup….
Hilarious and cute!
Thanks, Mark.
What a little ham he or she is! Great way to start a morning, laughing. Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed them, Sallie.
Having a wonderful chuckle over these this morning, Ron….😄 The background suits the owls perfectly even if, of itself, is dreary and boring…. As usual how far the wings stretch always impresses me and the last photo – what can I say? 😉
Judy, this color of background didn’t bother me for a long time but eventually I just got tired of them..
You’ve inspired me, I may take my camera with me to gather eggs this morning and see how many fowl will amuse me (and perhaps others, in my blog) . . . .
Inspiration is a good thing, Terri. Usually…