The beginning of a trend?
1/2500, f/5.6, ISO 500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Yesterday morning I spotted two Burrowing Owls cavorting in the air several hundred yards away and in an area where I couldn’t approach them any closer. So I decided to just sit there and watch them. Cavorting Burrowing Owls are great fun to watch, even from a distance.
Suddenly they both flew in my direction and landed pretty close in front of me and next to a fence on my left. I got several shots of this one before it took off. I also got two takeoff shots but both were a little too soft. One of them had potential so I was quite disappointed.
You may have noticed that this owl is banded. I prefer my birds to not be wearing jewelry but it is what it is.
The photo is unremarkable, other than documenting the first time I’ve been able to get some half-way decent shots of a Burrowing Owl in several years. Hopefully it’s the beginning of a trend.
Ron
Addendum: As an afterthought I decided to include the soft takeoff shot. It probably isn’t fair to my readers to mention a photo that “had potential” without including it.
1/2500, f/5.6, ISO 500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Here’s to Burrowing Owls, many opportunities with them, and sharing those shots — slightly soft or not — with all of us! 🥂
I’ll drink to that. In about half an hour, actually.
🥃
Indeed, thank you for including the take off shot. A tease is only fun when it can be accompanied by a smile, something not easy to do in print. Besides, it adds dimension to the bird’s story and action both of which allow us to share in your luck that morning. Here’s hoping you get many more opportunities like that.
Oooh. Thank you for including the (very slightly) soft shot for those of us who will never get the chance to see these total charmers in the flesh.
You’re very welcome, EC.
Sensational!
Charlotte Norton
Thanks, Charlotte.
The takeoff shot is plenty sharp for those of us non-photographers who never see burrowing owls. Thank you for including it. Wonderful that you got to see these beauties!
Thanks, Carolyn. Your first sentence explains part of the reason I decided to add the photo in an addendum.
Beautiful even if “soft”…… 🙂 1st shot makes me think “and what are YOU looking at?” 😉 Glad there are still some out there. Know they haven’t been plentiful at Freezeout this year.
Judy, interesting to know that Freezeout is a place where they’re known to be found. The only place in Montana I’ve ever seen Burrowing Owls is the Centennial Valley.
Benton Lake – not Freezeout – sorry! The 6th of this month at the Buffalo Jump(around Manchester) Suzette – inlaw of Joe’s – captured one. Last fall she found some at Benton – VERY dry so she could see them…
His eye in the soft shot has such color! Like the lighting on his face. 😄
Thanks, Kathleen.
These owls have such personality. Thanks for sharing Ron.
For what it is worth, I like the soft shot.
“I like the soft shot.”
Thanks, Michael. If it were a little sharper I would too. I really like the way I caught him framed between the grass strands in front of and behind him. But as things stand it just frustrates me.
A little serendipity for you Ron. They flew right to you. Maybe an omen of good things to come. I would never have seen that little part of a band had you not mentioned it. Is it normal to see them this time of the year in your area?
“Is it normal to see them this time of the year in your area?”
Everett, it used to be far more “normal” than it’s been for the last several years.
Does that mean some don’t leave and migrate to warmer areas? Or that by mid-Sept there are still some who have not left?
Burrowing owls have such “presence” ! don’t know how else to describe their special quality. I’d love to see them “cavort”–I’ve
only ever seen them stand and stare back with those wonderful
huge eyes…..
Kris, by “cavorting” I meant that these owls were either playing or competing in the air – maybe both, but I suspect they were just having fun.
Thank you for including the “soft” take off shot…I love it!
Mary, including it shouldn’t have been an “afterthought.”. But I slept in this morning so I was rushing to publish this post and didn’t think of it at first. Probably not enough coffee…
This is very exciting!! I hope this is just the first of many sightings and photo ops for you. Burrowing owls are a favorite of mine. So much personality in such little bodies. And I love the band. It means that this bird that was banded in a rehab situation or a banding effort, is surviving and will hopefully add to the BO population. May they remain in your area and thrive.
Thanks, Melanie. I see bands and banding as a necessary evil but that’s a story for another day.
So adorable! Great way to start my morning!
Good. Thanks, Cindy.
Nice. Cute little fellow.
Thanks, Jimmy.