Short-Eared Owl Grand Finale

These pictures were taken recently in what may have been the short-eared owls last day here. A big event happened and that may have driven them back up north to Canada. The season started out with not much luck for me, but ended with a bang.

Short-Eared Grand Finale- Sat on a post and lingered for a while

I did not have much luck until sometime around mid-February and had more luck after the time change. On weekends in winter the place is mobbed and the behaviour of some of the photographers I believe keeps them far away from where we are allowed to stand. I say some, not all. Most respect the rules of the location and the animals. The short-eared owls usually leave sometime in March, but they stayed until past mid-April. People were hoping they were going to stay year round. (I went to another location yesterday and I was told it was a great year for short-eared owl viewing there as well).

Short-Eared Grand Finale- They seem to stretch themselves out like this before they fly. Light changed while it was lingering here.

One owl would land on trees, various posts and do close fly-bys. I among others believe it was the same owl every time. When I say close fly-bys I mean within 5-10 feet of you. I hope the same owl returns next year. Otherwise, I enjoyed it while it lasted mid-February through mid-April. Seeing an owl close up was not a daily occurrence. Sometimes it would come up to a nearby post or do fly-bys when there was low light. If the conditions were not right you would not see them close or at all.

Short-Eared Grand Finale- Take off from the post

One thing I learned and it seems to be true is the short-eared owls do not like wind over 10 miles and hour. It was rare to see them fly when the wind was above 10 mph. I believe on this night it was not promising, but a cloudy day changed into one with no clouds at the horizon and it made for good light after 6. The winds also died down. Right around the time for these two events we started to see them pop up and fly.

Get out and enjoy the wildlife that reside in your state! Have a great rest of your week!

Pileated Woodpecker’s Destruction

I heard a big chunks falling off a tree to the ground. It was a pileated woodpecker destroying a tree. He was in search of bugs to eat and was tearing chunks of bark off the tree.

Pileated Woodpecker’s Destruction
Pileated Woodpecker’s Destruction

They may be starting to nest. There is a lot more activity in the woods. Get out and enjoy a walk in the woods. Unplug from your devices and enjoy nature’s sounds. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Raccoon in a Tree

I take pictures of tree holes. I know that may be odd. I am hoping to find an owl or another animal dwelling in the hole. This photo was taken from quite a distance with a zoom lens and is heavily cropped. It was before sunset.

Raccoon in a Tree

I did not see the raccoon when I aimed for the tree hole. Maybe it was there and the image was too small to see it, or maybe it just entered the frame just as I clicked. After I zoomed in and looked at my camera I said Holy Cow! Then I went for a closer look at the tree. I did not see the raccoon again. Hopefully it was his home and not another animal’s home he was looking to raid eggs from. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Short-Eared Owl on the Ground

The short-eared owl was in a new spot tonight. I am convinced it is the same owl every time one lands on posts etc. This time it landed on the ground next to the parking lot. The wind had picked up and it settled there for a long time looking to be in a not so happy mood. They do not seem to like winds above 10 miles an hour.

Short Eared Owl on the Ground

Yes, I felt the earthquake today. I was on the third floor of my workplace. The building shook for about 20 seconds or so, the floor seemed to shake, and there was a rumbling noise. I was surprised it was only a 4.8, but there appears only be some minor damage in places such as cracks on walls and water in basements. I did not feel any of the aftershocks. The were less intense. The one most likely to be felt I think occurred around 6 p.m., but I was watching this owl by then and was further away. Have a great weekend.

Short-Eared Owl in Flight 2

When the owls come out in better light it gives me a chance to up the shutter speed to 1/2000 of a second. This enables me to stop the action better and get less blur and more details in the image.

Many times they are coming out at sunset or after sunset. To try to reduce noise in the photos I had lower shutter speeds in early photos. Many of those photos have blur in the wings and do not have sharp details. I have a lot of shots the last two or three days I went where they came out prior to sunset. This photo was still lightened. Hopefully your week is not as soggy as mine so far.

Short-Eared Owl Above the Grass

Some people only go in search of wildlife on sunny days with blue skies. Some people only look for things in early morning or golden hour light. Sometimes cloudy days or photos a few hours before sunset can work.

Short-Eared Owl Above the Grass

I take photos whenever I can get them. Animals do not go by our schedule. I have a lot of short eared owl photos. I was happy anytime I saw them, but hoped for good lighting conditions.

It sounds like we will have rainy and possibly snowy weather this week. Whatever the weather, have a nice week.

Short-Eared Owl on a Birdhouse

Two nights ago a wish came true. I was hoping a short-eared owl would land on a birdhouse close to the viewing stand. It was not there for long, but I got off a few of shots.

Short Eared Owl on a Birdhouse

It was not ideal lighting conditions, but I will take it. It came out with clouds at the horizon during sunset. They could be leaving for Canada anytime soon.

Short-Eared Owl on a Birdhouse

Sometimes wishes do come true. Have a great week!

The Gray Ghost

What do you think of when you hear the term “gray ghost?” For some it brings to mind the football player, Tony Canadeo, who played for the Green Bay Packers many years ago and earned his place in the Hall of Fame. Some people think automatically of of Bruce Wayne’s hero in Batman. Others think of Confederate soldier Mosby who led raids on Federal supply lines during the US Civil War and was known for his ability to appear, disappear, and blend in with locals. But did you know there is a hawk that is known as the gray ghost? The male northern harrier has that nickname.

The Gray Ghost

Males have different colouring than females. All the pictures shown here are male northern harriers.

The Gray Ghost It flys just above and among the tops of the tall grasses.

Diet

Northern harriers eat small rodents such as mice and voles. The location of these pictures appears to have many mice and voles. Amongst other things they eat small rabbits and other birds. They say many farmers like northern harriers because they eat mice that damage crops. Harriers are sometimes called “good hawks” because they pose no threat to poultry as some hawks do.

The Gray Ghost – The one above has blood on its claws from the last catch.

How they Hunt

Northern harriers hunt by flying low to the ground in open areas during the daytime. I frequently see them flying in the late afternoon before the owls come up. When hunting, harriers circle an area several times listening and looking for prey. They can hover and make sharp turns. When they spot prey, they swoop down and grab the prey with their sharp claws. They will also steal prey from owls, which I have seen them try to do at the location pictured.

The Gray Ghost

Native American Symbolism

According to Texas Parks and Wildlife some Native American tribes believe that seeing a hawk on your wedding day is a sign of a long, happy marriage.

This bird has been ghost like and elusive to me. This is the first year I have seen it up close enough to get good shots. Maybe it was tired of the attention the owls were getting. Have a great rest of your week.

Short-Eared Owl Post Hopping

There were maybe 3-4 other cars at around 4 p.m. The others left, then I saw two owls on the far side of the field come up and do short flights spaced.

Short-Eared Owl Post Hopping

Later, as cars started to arrive, one flew and landed on one post and stayed for a long time. The post was far out, so no pictures here. However, when it flew, (as its audience was growing again) it flew back and forth over the trail and landed on various posts on both sides.

Short-Eared Owl Post Hopping. This post is close to the trail. Its my favourite one the owl lands on for that reason.

By my count it landed on four different posts, at least one of them multiple times.

Short-Eared Owl Post Hopping

It flew rather close to the parking lot and the trail.

Short-Eared Owl Post Hopping Back to my favourite post

Despite the cloudy, overcast sky they came out before sunset and at least one of them gave us quite a show. Anything is possible even on a cloudy, dreary day.

Short-Eared Owl Take-Offs and Landings

After several days of either heavy rains or strong winds it was much calmer weather today. One owl was nice enough to come out before sunset. I believe others came up later.

Short-Eared Owl Take Offs and Landings
Short-Eared Owl Take Offs and Landings- Flew close to the Viewing Area
Short-Eared Owl Take Offs and Landings- Close to the Viewing Area
Short-Eared Owl Take Offs and Landings

Last night they came out after sunset so the images were very grainy. I was happy one came out earlier tonight. Enjoy your week!