Tag: #Owls

Unexpected Owlets

These are an unexpected find. It is an unexpected location for many reasons that I cannot go into detail about.

Unexpected Owlets screaming for parents and most likely food

The weather has been absolutely horrid. Very cloudy most of the time it seems, so it makes for very dark conditions amongst a group of trees. The photo at the bottom I actually got caught in a passing rain storm.

Unexpected Owlets – Two in the hole

I actually heard the sounds days before I saw them at the tree hole. The first few days they did not appear at the tree hole. I walked on all sides of this tree and the sound appeared to come from the other side of the tree no matter what side of the tree I was on. I concluded it had to be inside the tree. I even had a friend listen to a video of the sound to confirm it was an owlet. I never heard them make these sounds inside the tree hole, only after they ventured out of the hole. Then I saw one on a different day appear at the hole. On another day I saw two heads. It almost appeared the one would push the other out.

Unexpected Owlets- It was raining and I had to leave.

All of these photos, but especially the one on the bottom are taken in very low light conditions at a high ISO. Even in a location you would never think an owl would nest, they might. Enjoy the rest of your week!

Barred Owl 2020

I took this photo in 2020. Instead of hiking around Manhattan, I was hiking in the woods north of the city. I think I can say many altered their lives in significant ways after March of 2020, although for some it may have been temporary.

Barred Owl 2020

Have you made changes that you stuck to? For me it was probably taking more animal pictures. What about you?

The Barred are Back!

This pair has been in and out of public land at one of the many places I hike. It has mostly been outside of public land past two years. Too many things have happened and continue to happen that keep them on private lands. Tonight the pair crossed the border into public land.

The Barred are Back!

I actually saw one of them on Sunday morning. I was looking at another bird and the owl made one of the many sounds a barred owl makes. Turns out it was in a neighbouring tree. I would like to think it was saying hi!

The Barred are Back!

I have not heard any of the usual telltale signs they are near in the past several months such as the complaining of robins, bluejays, chipmunks, etc. Birds complain when a hawk or owl is nearby. Tonight was the first time I heard the signs, but it was well after I saw it.

The Barred are Back!

The pictures above and below are at sunset. It actually caught something on the ground and carried it to a neighbouring tree to its mate. The mate ate a little then carried it off towards private land. I think they will only be occasional opportunities on the fly to see them again this year.

The Barred are Back! It caught something on the ground right after this picture.

I hope I see them again in the future. This was unexpected, but great nonetheless.

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!

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!

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!