Tag: #ShortEaredOwl

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 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 Hello

Short-Eared Owl Hello – It landed on a post near the platform.
Short-Eared Owl Hello -Flying from the post towards the platform.
Short-Eared Owl Hello – It landed near the platform in the grass on top of its prey.

Short-Eared After Sunset

Little stinkers. They waited until any good light left to come out. One landed on this pole near the trail. I do not have a denoise program. Only an old version of Elements. Obviously I do not know what I am doing. I hope someday to take a course in photoshop or get a denoise program.

Regardless, I was happy to see them again. I just wish they would come up in good light. Have a great Wednesday!

Short-Eared Owls

I saw these when I went on a walk. They were very far away. I took these with a zoom lens and the images were heavily cropped. They are not sharp, but most likely the best I will get as I never see these owls up as close as I have seen snowies or barred owls. Maybe someday I will get lucky.

They were flying pretty fast.
Two short eared owls having fun between diving for food.
A fight with a Harrier. The mole/ vole was dropped. If it wasn’t already dead, it had the flight of its life without a parachute.

Get out an enjoy nature. There is a lot to see out there.