A Short-eared Owl Intent On Prey

The intensity of the focus of Short-eared Owls on prey seems to be amplified by their large, brightly colored eyes.

 

short-eared owl 0479 ron dudley

1/2500, f/6.3 ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in

This owl was hunting voles from a fence post ten days ago in Northern Utah. It was obviously scanning for nearby prey but when it would see (or hear) a vole rustling in the grass its focus on the little rodent (that I could neither see nor hear) would instantly became intense. Sometimes it would watch that spot in the grass for a while and eventually give up on it and begin to scan elsewhere.

But this time…

 

 

 

short-eared owl 0482b ron dudley1/2500, f/6.3 ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, canvas added for composition, not baited, set up or called in

it took off after the vole. On this morning I didn’t see this or any other owl catch prey but it sure wasn’t for lack of trying.

I’m somewhat disappointed in this photo for two reasons – there’s an out of focus wooden post in the upper background and I had to add canvas to the image to get a more pleasing composition (something I don’t like to do).

But I like the owl a lot.

Ron

 

 

21 Comments

  1. While the owl is waiting patiently for his vole, you are patiently waiting for his take-off . How does your patience compare with his? Often with a heron, for instance; I find that his is a lot longer than mine. Great pictures! John

    • Good question, John.

      I’ll admit that I often run out of patience waiting for a bird to take off (I refuse to flush them deliberately). But if I have an owl, of any species, in my viewfinder I have all the patience in the world. It may not be right or fair to put owls in an elitist category but that’s what I do…

  2. Thanks…got this one…

  3. I quite like the post. A subtle reminder that the owl is not detached from the world around it. Quite like the post, LOVE the owl.

  4. Ron, I find it puzzling that you feel comfortable using filters to sharpen and do noise reduction, lighten,and use tone controls but you don’t feel comfortable taking out a background post that bothers you in the Owl image. Explain please. Thanks, Darol

    • Darol, Sharpening, exposure and tonal adjustments aren’t taking elements out of the image or adding them. Cloning is, and it just doesn’t seem quite honest to me – especially in nature photography and “doubly especially” when it isn’t disclosed.

      IMO, there’s good reason why most highly respected nature photography competitions allow sharpening, exposure and tonal adjustments but they don’t allow cloning.

      That said, I do clone occasionally but I always disclose what I’ve done and I really don’t like to do it. I don’t like adding canvas either, after all it’s a type of cloning, but I did it with this image. I have less problem with noise reduction, though I seldom use it.

      That’s just what works for me but like many nature photographers I struggle with where to draw the line and in some cases it’s a fine line indeed.

  5. Excellent shots Ron.
    One of these days (he says hopefully) I’ll get back to carving. Haven’t done an owl yet, but one capturing a Meadow Vole would be a thought.

    • I hope you do get back to carving, Dick. It sounds like you used to enjoy it a lot.

      • A screech owl just being a screech owl would be just right with me! Same with a Barn owl or a GHO….

        • Thanks Patty, I agree stand alone owls are nice.
          Just need to find the time! I used to think some retired people who said they were busier in retirement than when they were working were kidding.
          Not so! But, maybe when I get through with my current job, I’ll have some time!

  6. Beautiful images Ron. You are right about their bright yellow eyes “amplifying” their focus while hunting. Very nice 🙂

  7. Charlotte Norton

    It must be hard being a perfectionist but I sure do enjoy the fruits of your efforts. Wonderful shots Ron!

    Charlotte

    • Ha, I don’t know if I’m a perfectionist or not, Charlotte, but if I am it’s both rewarding and frustrating (probably the latter more often, though). Thank you.

  8. Amazing images Ron ! .Beautiful lighting. I really like the background post in the first image, as it repeats the shape of the foreground and ties the piece together IMO.

  9. The owls are great, Ron. Beautiful capture in the 2nd frame. 🙂 They are intense when concentration on something. I remember seeing that look in a tiger’s eyes in a zoo many years ago – unnerving in that case!

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