It’s barely the New Year but I’m already weary of snow and cold so there’s a change of pace this morning provided by a Short-eared Owl, flowers and the color green.
1/1000, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
This is the male of a mated pair photographed several years ago at Montana’s Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. He was an industrious and highly skilled hunter as evidenced by the dozens of voles I saw him capture over most of a week in late June. When this shot was taken he had been hunting (and defending his territory from other owls) all morning so he was taking a much-needed rest break atop a low-growing sagebrush.
The bird is largely backlit but there’s plenty of light on the shaded parts of the owl to make the image work for me, especially considering how well that bright yellow eye still stands out. I also like the single, tall stalk of grass leaning in the same direction the owl is looking.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Several hours later on the same morning I photographed him with a vole amongst the dandelions and sagebrush. Even though he’s partly obscured by the vegetation I like seeing him in habitat.
I’ll admit that part of the reason for my choice of subject this morning is the highly unfortunate criminal activity occurring now at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. It made me think of all the remote National Wildlife Refuges and other public lands that are precious to me, Red Rock Lakes NWR among them. I can’t even begin to adequately express the loathing and disgust I feel toward the thugs carrying out this action.
If anyone out there reading this has a different view that supports the illegal and immoral activities of these terrorists please don’t express it here. I will not debate the issue.
I invite those who don’t support the rule of law to spend their time somewhere other than this blog (remedial civics class would be my suggestion).
Ron
Addendum: In response to Dick Harlow’s question in the comments below I’m adding this highly cropped version of the second image in this post for a somewhat better look at the vole. It’s difficult to see well because of the foreground vegetation.
Stunning shots of owl. My favorite kind of shot is the photographic kind… Not to fond of anything that involves weapons… Agree completely about Malheur… What a bunch of bloomin blasted idjits… I have used worse words as well. Fingers crossed it ends without bloodshed. I hope they are frozen out (and run out of “snacks” (as they apparently requested via their Facebook page)). Bah humbug…
On Ed MacKerrow’s question, “Do you know why some owls have different colored irises in their eye?” The information I have is it indicates when they hunt. The darker the eye color (like the black of the barn owl) indicates they prefer to hunt in the deepest part of the night. They yellow-eyed owls prefer the dusk/dawn timeframe. Of course, that does NOT limit them to those times, but just when they’re most productive. Or at least that’s what I’ve heard from various -ologists.
Delighted again by your photography. Thank you so much for sharing your gift. Thank you!
As for the thugs, they need to be removed, by force if necessary. They’re terrorists, plain and simple. And yes, I agree that it’s going to get worse before it gets better. At its root is the white supremacist movement, but they’re also truly dangerous, ignorant people. Just my opinion. As far as the Hammonds, do the crime, do the time. But while they claim not to be associated with the thugs in Oregon, their actions (appearing with the group on the site) speaks otherwise. ALWAYS pay more attention to the actions!! Reprehensible. But you knew I’d be in this camp 😉
MARVELOUS RON!!
Charlotte
Totally agree with you on the nut jobs in Oregon. And I love-love-love your shots of this Short Eared. Do they nest there, Ron?
Yes, they do nest here in Utah, Leslie. I’ve seen them doing so on Antelope Island.
My TV, Phone and the evil,iPad have all been down for the last few days, so I have no idea what happened at Malheur, but have leaden suspicion that it’s some kind of heartbreaker…at first I felt kind of lost with out them, then it felt pretty good. My gut tells me that some kind of moron, or morons, did something sickening and enraging…their kind seem to be multiplying and emerging from the woodwork and out from under the rocks in horrifying numbers, as if the dam of hate, stupidity, greed and evil has broken…there is a HUGE reservoir of anger, bigotry and hate in this country right now….and it’s feeding the lowest of the low……I feel as if I have a dead vole hanging put of my mouth. too– I’m not an owl so it doesn’t taste very good!….HAPPY NEW YEAR ! (What’s “new”? )..,,
Welcome back, Patty! Doesn’t sound like you’ve been having much fun…
We’ve had a week of actual winter weather here in Michigan and I’m already sick of it! Beautiful owl Ron! I love how the owl’s eyes match the dandelions! As far as the Oregon shenanigans…wildlife and refuges will always trump ranchers they’ve done enough damage! Not much else can be said that others haven’t posted already.
“I love how the owl’s eyes match the dandelions!”
I noticed that too, Jeff. And like it as you do.
It HAS been horribly cold here in the PNW lately and like you, I am tired of it. Also, I’m getting rather tired of the newscasts and articles in my neck of the woods about it (we are the closest “real” city with a news station – Bend) and the discussions in the comments are sometimes just ridiculous! OK I agree with you so no further discussion on that point. What I really wanted to say is that I LOVE that you shared a photo with green and yellow and hopes of spring to come! Owls of course are my favorite subject of yours. Take care.
“I LOVE that you shared a photo with green and yellow and hopes of spring to come”
I always take occasional “spring breaks” like this during winter with my blog, Kathryn. For me it’s a matter of survival when it’s been very cold for a long while. Thank you.
You always manage to get interesting shots! I really like the owl with the vole. And i, too, am tired of the cold and snow. Even our poodles are tired of it!
IMHO I think the only solution in Oregon is for the sharp shooters to go in and clear them out. That’s a fine refuge, and they do amazing work. We visited it once a few years ago. It infuriates me that these thugs/terrorists have taken it over. Ignorance knows no bounds.
I’d love to visit Malheur one day, Jane. Maybe when this is all over I’ll have even more incentive to make the trip.
I love the owl.
Loathe the situation in Malheur.
Hiss and spit. And I wish painful haemorrhoids on the thugs involved.
Thank you, EC.
Spectacular shots, Ron! I rarely see Short-eared Owls, and when I do they’re hunting at dusk on cold winter days. It’s a real treat to see your beautiful images of a daylight hunt. Thanks for brightening a cold, cloudy day!
I’m glad you enjoyed the images, Diane. Thank you.
Love owls and seeing one in the tall grass makes for a great capture. I enjoy that you list your camera settings. What lens do you use for these “faraway-close ups”? I linda
We had vandals spray paint trees, boulders along a beautiful trail: Jewell Of The Creek here outside of Phoenix. Volunteers scrubbed best they could and ended up spray painting the trees with a “safe” cover to match.
Thanks, Linda, I (nearly) always list my lens in the image techs below the photos as I’ve done here. In this case I used the Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM lens.
The photograph of the owl with the vole is terrific among the flowers. But that first image is really special! Talk about king of all he surveys!
I’m off to chase a wayward Vermillion Flycatcher. He’s supposed to be in South America but has been hanging about in an orange grove.
Have a great week!
Thank you, Wally. And good luck with the wayward flycatcher!
The first photo here is one of my all-time favorites of yours. Something bewitching about it! I don’t know about what’s going on at Malheur but I think I’ll keep my focus trained on our broken heater in the house and broken heater in the car for the time being! I’m sure I’d agree with you as I always do. It’s tough living in this harsh and crazy world at times. Your blog is a true source of refreshment and encouragement. Thanks as always.
Thank you, Alison. Actually I believe that first image is a different pose than I’ve posted on my blog before, but it is the same bird.
I also have an unpleasant broken and heat related piece of equipment that I have to deal with this morning that will hopefully help to keep my mind of the Malheur situation – a suddenly nonfunctional clothes dryer that I’m about to tear into. I suspect the culprit to be a slipped and stuck belt…
Hi again? If you look close there are two tails! also it looks like it is to wide across to be just one! I see things in the wild that other do not until I point them out! Hope I am right?/ Ha ha If not I tried???
The “second tail” looks to me like a narrow leaf of grass, Sybill. And those voles up there are big and fat!
Hi Ron!
Beautiful photo’s! Great work shooting these! I see by the News the FBI has finally decided to do something at Malheur! Lock them all up for a long time! Have a special day!
“I see by the News the FBI has finally decided to do something at Malheur!”
I hope so, Hummingbird Lover. Thank you.
Beautiful images of my favorite owl species Ron. I love the eyes on the Short-eared owl — the yellow against the black diamond coloring around the eye. Do you know why some owls have different colored irises in their eye? For example the Strix genus owls have jet black eyes on the Barred and Spotted Owls, and yet yellow eyes on the Great Gray. Barn owls have dark irises, Great Horned and Long-eared bright yellow, so do Boreal and N Saw-whet. I did some casual research on this and have yet to find anything. (It is interesting too that sound is probably used more than sight by owls for hunting.)
“already weary of the snow and cold…” I am sorry to hear that, however to be honest I hope it continues,…, since selfishly I want to come out and see the daytime flying owls 🙂
The situation at Malheur NWR is unacceptable. Before switching careers to photography full time, I ran a team of interdisciplinary scientists where our job was to research the motivations on why people pursue political violence (terrorism). After doing this full time for 15 years I feel like our biggest challenge / threat in the US is from white “right winged domestic terrorists”. Patriot Groups fit in this broad category of terrorists. These types of groups are increasing in number and “acceptance”. It upsets me a great deal — especially since the public (and mostly the media) is not shining the light on these losers enough. As I travel the rural west I see the problem getting worse. A good strategy is ” look at what they do, not what they say”. The Southern Poverty Law Center group has some very good, accurate, research and their website has some telling data and analysis.
“Do you know why some owls have different colored irises in their eye?”
No, I do not, ED, though it’s something I’ve often wondered about.
I couldn’t agree more with what you said in your last paragraph!
1. Thank you. Thank you. THANK YOU for calling them terrorists. We are in agreement there!
I love the 2nd shot because of the colors of the flowers mirroring the color of his eyes. And that first one…wow…nothing like being stuffed. His crop looks huge. 😀
“THANK YOU for calling them terrorists”
Arwen, If the shoe fits…
Hi Ron,
I have led outings to Malheur NWR for the last several years – it is one of those very special places in the Field Of Wonder. I am REALLY pissed. Add STUPID to the list of adjectives describing the people who have done this. I’m tempted to add some words I learned during my career in the Navy, if you get the picture. Speaking of pictures – your wonderful shots of the owl are more reminders of Malheur. We see them regularly just outside the dorms we stay in at Maalheur Field Station. Always a treat!
Biting my tongue…
Cheers,
Dick
You and I feel the same about what’s going on at Malheur, Dick, and about the choice of words that we’d like to use to describe it.
I’ve never been there but have often thought about it. Some photographers I knew through Nature Photographer’s Network (NPN) regularly visited that refuge and it’s always intrigued me.
I think we’ll both have a sore tongue for some time in the future…
Thanks for the crop Ron – One vole! I see one tail two feet, and what looked like it could be another projection is simply a dark piece of grass. However, good sized vole. This guy is a good hunter, good provider.
Agreed, Dick – one vole.
Beautiful shots. I was unaware of this criminal activity you mentioned, so looked for information on it. I agree completely that it is disgusting, and cannot wrap my brain around the way these people think. Something I’m grateful for, along with the fact that we’re headed for the tropics. I’ll see you back here in a few months. Hope you can stay warm!
Have a wonderful time on your trip, Susan. We’ll definitely miss you around here while you’re gone!
Beautiful shots Ron. Question: second image, it looks like there are two voles hanging down from its beak, is that the case or is my eyesight going? VBG!
Concerning Malheur – been there a long time ago when I took my family camping across country, also to Red Rocks, and many other National Wildlife and National Parks. It was very peaceful, beautiful and full of wildlife. I agree with you whole heartedly!! I won’t go any further than that since what I would say shouldn’t be printed anyway!
“it looks like there are two voles hanging down from its beak”
Ha, I was wondering if someone would notice that, Dick. I thought the same thing – to the point that last night I cropped in tightly to see if I could figure it out. I still can’t for sure but I believe it’s only one vole.
In a few minutes I’ll add that tightly cropped version to this post to see what you (or others) might think.
Regarding Malheur – like you, I had to be very careful how I expressed my feelings here on that situation. I am so very angry about it that almost anything could have come out of my keyboard…
Beautiful shot, Ron 🙂 I’m with you on the weather – no chinooks for over a month and it is getting “old”. Given what some other areas of the country are experiencing I’m not whining too loud. I’m with you on the wildlife refuge “stuff” – immediately thought of you when it came up.
Thanks, Judy. We’ve had snow and cold for a while now and there’s more of the white stuff forecast for later this week. We need it and I welcome it on some levels but I think it’s going to be a long winter. I guess I’ve become a bit of a pansy since my days of living in Montana…
IMO, the situation at Malheur is absolutely disgusting, on so many levels.
It is disgusting – your comments were much more socially acceptable than mine when I first heard about it. 🙂