Burrowing Owls And Badger Holes
I’ve been aware for years that these owls sometimes take over badger holes but it’s something I’ve never been able to document without question until this week.
Category: Owls
Bird Banding – A Necessary Evil?
For the first six years of my bird photography “career” I rarely encountered banded birds but in the last two years or so I encounter them regularly, some species more than others. Usually when I see a bird with bands or transmitters strapped to their backs I don’t even click the shutter except for documentation purposes.
Short-eared Owl In Flight Against A Darker Background
On my Montana trips Short-eared Owls are always one of my primary target species but sadly I seldom see them in recent years. This bird was one of two owls I found in almost five days of searching at the end of last month.
Short-eared Owl Pushing Off With His Talon-tips
On our Montana trips I’m always looking for Short-eared Owls but sadly, unlike just a few years ago when they were relatively abundant, they’re virtually nonexistent in the Centennial Valley these days. I’m pretty much convinced their absence is largely due to all the cattle (mostly yearlings who are the juvenile delinquents of the bovine world and they really tore up the place) that were allowed to graze Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge a couple of years ago.
Burrowing Owl On A Boulder Perch
Six days ago on Antelope Island as I rounded a curve in the road I encountered this Burrowing Owl on a large rock with a clean setting and background. It was a cool morning and the sun had only recently come up so this bird was obviously enjoying the warming rays and showed no nervousness as I approached.
Short-eared Owl With Prey
Burrowing Owls And Banding
Burrowing Owls are among my favorite species to experience and photograph but in recent years some of the joy has been taken out of it.
Barn Owl In Flight – An Image That Deserved A Second Chance
It’s easy to miss the potential of a photo when viewing it full frame. This image makes me wonder how many diamonds in the rough I’ve deleted over the years…
Juvenile Burrowing Owls Practicing Take-offs And Landings
Because of their comical tendencies, expressive faces and uninhibited behaviors juvenile Burrowing Owls just may be the most interesting and entertaining birds I photograph.
Short-eared Owl With Huge Vole (or is it something else?)
Most adult voles I see are about the same size but occasionally I notice one that appears to have been on an extended steroid regimen. Perhaps they’re not voles at all…?
Great Horned Owl Chicks On The Farm
Great Horned Owl chicks at this stage are inquisitive, adventuresome, cute and clumsy – all of which makes them wonderful photography subjects.
Short-eared Owl Flight Sequence In Habitat
Short-eared Owls are a favorite subject of mine and I particularly enjoy flight sequences that highlight habitat.
Perched Barn Owl Actually Doing Something
It’s not often that I photograph a perched Barn Owl doing anything but resting. Opening and closing their eyes is about as exciting as it usually gets.
One Shot, Two Butts – Three times!
In previous posts of this male Barn Owl I mentioned that he had good hunting success while I was with him. Here’s evidence of that fact – three butt-shots in flight with prey.
Barn Owl Facial Disc Manipulation And The Colors Beneath It
During my recent encounter with this male Barn Owl I noticed something I’d never seen or even thought of before – manipulation of the facial disc that changes its shape and alters what we can see on the face of the bird.