![\"short-eared](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/short-eared-owl-3183-ron-dudley.jpg\")
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<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nTwo 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.<\/p>\n
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\u00a0I 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.<\/p>\n
I suspect that some of my readers may be beginning to\u00a0grow weary\u00a0all the\u00a0Short-eared Owl images I’ve been posting recently and I understand that. But this late spring has been a bonanza for these owls\u00a0like I\u00a0can’t\u00a0remember\u00a0so 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\u00a0with them than\u00a0I did.<\/p>\n
And I can only post what I shoot…<\/p>\n
Ron<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
One of the many variables one must deal with when photographing birds at takeoff is direction of flight.<\/p>\n