I never saw this Burrowing Owl with prey but he always seemed to have a bloody beak and he was usually hungry for more.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I saw or photographed him (I believe it to be a male) multiple times this past spring and the poor guy usually looked like he was wearing smeared lipstick. I remember calling him “Ol’ Bloody Beak” more than once as I drove past him on the road. These photos were taken in late May and he was presumably feeding a family by then so that would explain the blood since apparently they were mostly eating voles.
At first the bird appeared to be just resting but…
1/3200, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
some time later he either saw or heard potential prey in the grasses below him and he became fixated on whatever it was. He spent quite a long time looking down intensely at the same spot before…
1/5000, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
he launched in that direction.
To be honest I can’t remember if he came up with prey but he probably didn’t because I don’t have any photos to document it. But it wasn’t for lack of trying.
I’ve found images like this last one difficult to get because Burrowing Owls are small and fast and you never know at what angle (or direction) they’ll take off so usually I either cut off body parts or get only “air shots”. Sharp-eyed viewers will notice that the angle of the metal post is different in the third shot than it is in the previous two. That’s because if I’d rotated the last image to make the post vertical I’d have lost space at the bottom for the owl to fly into.
Bird photography is often an exercise in compromise…
Ron
Marvelous shots of old bloody beak Ron!
Charlotte
How wonderful to see a success story. Love that athletic dive too.
Thank you, EC.
What a terrific group of Burrowing Owl photos, Ron!! I especially love the last one where she/he is in dive bomb mode. What a fierce look on it’s face. I’m so used to seeing them by their burrows and in their clown mode that this is a new view of them. A very special raptor!!
I’m glad you enjoyed the images, Jo Ann. Thank you.
Beautiful
Thanks, April.
Just splendid and the usual Oh WOW! At least in these shots, it’s pretty obvious this stunningly beautiful little guy/girl is surviving quite well. The blood on his/her beak is only just dried and s/he is going for more. And you’re right–given the time frame, most likely a male supporting a family. And burrowing owls often have a big brood, so no rest for the weary parent(s) 🙂
It’s always such a joy to open your blog every morning. Yesterday’s Kingfisher was just as splendid. I’m just in the throes of packing for my move west (and dawdling now).
Thank you, Laura. Good luck with your move!
Nice shots…really show bird’s concentration and intensity of focus, that and the bloody beak speak of success. I’ve taken plenty of air shots, plus foot and thumb shots. The best, though,was the one my husband took of his.own eye at our daughter’s college graduation….
Actually, I think it may have been of his retina…
Patty, with some of the early digital cameras my specialty was thumb shots. It always happened at the worst possible time too.
Great shots Ron!
BTW life is a compromise. VBG!
Good point, Dick. Life is…
Great series, Ron! 🙂 Really caught the detail of the owl in all the shots. Those fence posts(and power poles here) are often at an angle and with the uneven terrain it’s hard to tell if the horizon is straight or not! 🙂
Judy, as you know it’s easy to know how to level some images but with others you get conflicting cues and it’s hard to know which one to follow.
I like how there is still enough of his eye visible to see that fixed stare as he takes flight. Glad to hear I’m not the only one with lots of air shots when trying to capture smaller birds taking off. You did a great job with this one!
Todd, I get a high percentage of air shots with smaller birds. I think most of us do. Thanks.
Great series, Ron! LOVE the launch shot!
Thank you, Diane.