Seven photos of six owl species.
I’ve never been one to follow the crowd. I never, ever use the word “cool” as an expression of approval or admiration, never have and never will. I haven’t and almost certainly never will play the web-based word game “Wordle”, especially since it’s now been hacked and all the answers are out. And in the past I’ve never participated in the annual flooding of the internet with owl photos under the title “Superb Owl Sunday” on Super Bowl Sunday.
But when CNN thinks the Superb Owl Sunday phenomenon is such a sensation it deserves a major article about it I decided to throw in the towel and join this particular crowd. I’ll use my love of owls as my excuse.
These are photos of the six owl species I’ve photographed over the years. I’ve posted each of them in the past but for many of them it’s been a very long time so most current blog followers will have never seen, or likely won’t remember seeing, at least some of them.
A fat and fuzzy Great Horned Owl fledgling in the midst of an enthusiastic yawn. Early one morning on the family farm in Montana I found this youngster basking in the warmth of the rising sun on one of the very old granaries built in the early 30’s.
The only Northern Pygmy Owl I’ve ever photographed. I watched as this bird flew down from the treetops in Montana’s Centennial Mountains, captured a fat little rodent and carried it back to a branch high above me. The shooting angle is steep and the background bright but it’s the best I have of the species.
A frustrated Barn Owl at Farmington Bay WMA. The owl had just dived into the snow after a vole that it missed. Whenever I see this photo it always makes me wonder of the bird was looking around to make sure no one noticed its embarrassing predicament.
I’ve only photographed Long-eared Owls a couple of times and this bird is one of them. It appeared to be using this rusty old fence post as a hunting perch. The ice and snow in the background combined with less than ideal light made for difficult shooting conditions but I did the best I could.
A young Burrowing Owl in flight. I actually got three flight shots of this owl but it was banded and I’m not particularly fond of jewelry on my birds. I chose to post this one out of the three because its left wing is hiding the shiny metal band.
OK, you want a little competition on Super Bowl Sunday? How about some fighting owls?
These two male Short-eared Owls in Montana’s Centennial Valley were really going at it as they fought over territory and breeding rights with a female owl that was watching their performance. The owl on the bottom had been on the ground when the other owl flew in to attack. At the last second the owl on the ground would jump up, turn upside down and present its talons in defense.
They did it repeatedly which gave me multiple chances to capture some pretty amazing aerial flighting postures. For obvious reasons, this one was is my favorite.
If you’re a fan I hope you enjoy the spectacle of the Super Bowl festivities and the game itself. I hope it’s a good one but in my view the game has little chance of being more entertaining, or competitive, than fighting owls.
Ron
Definately SUPERB!!
In your last photo of the fighting short-eared owls that lower image of the attackee has to be the strangest avian photograph I’ve ever seen, and
ever could imagine even. Obviously a ‘serious’ scene but also somehow quite amusing. Good capture.
I’ve never seen anything like it before or since, Vishnu. Thanks.
Fun to see this collection of Owl photos! I haven’t seen an owl to photograph up close in years. Thanks, for posting.
Deedee, I got close to a Great Horned this morning but it was in a super busy setting.
Have also watched a little bit of the Puppy Bowl today. Most adorable, as are your superb owls. Coolamatious! 😉
Thanks, Marty.
Absolutely beautiful and wonderful. I would choose seeing displays like this over any game any day of the week. Love your work.
Much appreciated, Michael.
Outstanding! I’ll take Superb Owls everyday over the other thing with those people crashing into eachother and all of the head injuries…
I can’t ever like the posts that various friends have posted of their sons (no daughters yet) playing football…
Thanks, Nicole.
Love the owl photos, the superbowl not a whit. Seeing, let alone photographing, six species of owls is impressive; even more impressive is they’re all so co…er, captivating photos.
Thank you, Lyle.
As a former owl mama, this is my idea of heaven…Thank you…
Patty, owl’s need mamas too…
I love all these photos! Superb Owl Sunday? Super Bowl? Huh? I’ve been sheltered all my life . . . .
Thank you, Terri. A sheltered life can be a good thing.
I’m a big fan of Superb Owl Sunday since it’s a thing on Twitter with lots of great pix (really, that’s the reason I’m there) — but it’s hard to beat Feathered Photography’s repertoire! 🦉
Being a SoCal resident, I will root for the Lambs to beat the Tigers, but will be pleased for Cincy if they win. Just hope it’s not a bloodbath. 😂
Let me know how it turns out, Chris… 🙂
My Lambs pulled it off in the last few minutes, 23-20 —a pretty amazing game! Not a bloodbath but a few injuries and more than a few penalty flags! 😂
Owls versus Sport? Any sport? NOOOO CONTEST.
Thanks Ron. I have a busy week ahead and predawn Monday this is a wonderful start.
Thanks, EC. I hope “busy” doesn’t have negative implications…
Far more entertaining than football! Thanks
Agreed. Thanks, Catherine.
I’ll take owls to Super Bowl any day, especially with such beautiful photos. I’m afraid that all I know about the Super Bowl is that it includes two football teams but I can’t begin to tell you which two teams they are nor do I really care. But owls…. That I can get excited about. Short-eared Owls fighting or courting are mesmerizing sights and you’ve captured the action well. We once watched a male diving and displaying for a female on the ground below him. He kept up his display for nearly an hour before she left with him trailing behind. I hope you have had a chancee to see this. The male loudly claps his wings together beneath himself as he pulls up from each dive. For me, it’s a much greater sport to see than the Super Bowl. Thanks for sharing these.
Dan, I’ve seen, and heard, that wing-clapping a couple of times. Very possibly from one of these fighting males. I won’t forget it.
Love them all. Especially the battling Short-ears. Question: Looking closely at the Long-eared, there’s an odd object at the bottom, looking almost like a piece of leather with a slit. It’s hanging over the barbed wire. What is it? Also I guess the owl’s left wing is drooping?
I think what you’re seeing is a trailing piece of rusty wire.
Kathryn is right. It’s a rusty piece of barbed wire, twisted back. And yes, the left wing is drooping.
Ha ha ha – did not know “Superb Owl Sunday” was a thing. Was excited to see your selection given your hundreds of ‘owlsome’ photos!. The last photo is my fav indeed!
Go Bengals!
Kathleen, If you’re on social media the “thing” is pretty hard to miss.
Ron – abandoned all social media the summer before the last presidential election. My little bubble of the world doesn’t need nor seek the plethora of negative ranting. Miss the days of witty repartee and the fun of discussing a topic with full listening and seeking to understand when there is a difference of opinion.
I’m not a Super Bowl fan, but I’ll take a superb owl Sunday anytime! Thanks.
Good. Thanks, Nancy.
Superb owls indeed! Thanks!
Thanks, Alison.
I have never heard of Superb Owl Sunday but I am already a big fan! Ron, your owl photos are pure delight! Hard to choose a favorite yet the yawning GHO fledging makes my heart sing loudest! Happy SOS!
Thank you, Melanie. You too.
I’m with Everett and Shoreacres–so far out of pop vernacular, I didn’t even
realize today’s title is a pun ! But “superb” is a perfect characterization of
this collection of images….it’s hard to believe that the pygmy owl could fly
up to a branch with a catch that probably weighs as much as he does. Thanks
for a handsome start to my Sunday….
“that probably weighs as much as he does”
Kris, I don’t think that’s hyperbole. I’ll bet the rodent does weigh as much as the owl. If not, awfully close.
Luv it! All wonderful shots of the various owls…… 🙂 Missed the Superb Owl thing – much prefer these! The fledgling yawning IS special as are the fight shots of the SEO’s. The Barn Owl’s predicament is priceless – did you get to watch him get out of it?
On that note and of things being early I heard a Northern Saw Whet owl the other evening.
P.S. Always amazing how much weight an owl can carry…….
Judy, I am soooo envious of your hearing a Northern Saw Whet! Hard to be sure but the Saw Whet may be my favorite owl.
Yeah, I watched him, Judy. He just turned back forward and took off out of the snow. When his wings hit the snow it may have been the only time I’ve ever heard a Barn Owl flapping.
These are wonderful photos of amazing birds! I hear 2 owls hooting at night in or near by my yard. It makes me think of a book I read years ago titled “I Heard the Owl Call my Name.”
Take Care,
Kaye
Thanks, Kaye.
I’ve never heard of Superb Owl Sunday. Been a fan of my Philadelphia Eagles for 74 years since I was ten, but don’t watch Super Bowls anymore since we became cord cutters a few years back.
Have never seen photos 2,3, and 4, but have the rest. Outstanding photos all and worthy to be exhibited for SOS. Great job as always Ron.
Always root for the underdog so > Go Bengals
Thanks, Everett. These days I don’t root for anybody…
Hi Ron. Thanks for sharing this amazing set of Wonderful, but not certainly not cool, owl pics with us. Ah heck, I can’t stay away from one of my favorite complimentary words…today’s post is Totally Cool, hahaha. Wonderful work indeed.
“today’s post is Totally Cool”
I deserved that, Rick!
I too pay no attention to Super Bowl activities except to see the Clydesdale commercial. Thanks for sharing the owl photos. They are beautiful. That little pygmy owl must have worked hard to get that fat little rodent up in the tree. The barn owl certainly looks perplexed at it’s predicament. Have a good day!
Cindy, that little pygmy owl was a fierce hunter. And a messy eater.
I don’t know how I could have missed Superb Owl Sunday, apart from the fact that I don’t watch television and pay no attention to the super bowl, but I’m certainly glad that you decided to honor the owls with this post. The photos are fabulous. The Barn Owl in snow looks like what might have happened had Raphael decided to paint a feathery cherub.
Shoreacres, I suspect you “missed it” because you’re not active on social media?
I’m not only “not active,” I’m not present at all. I subscribe to Twitter to follow various weather sites, but that’s it. I rarely feel the lack!