Short-eared Owl Takeoff

My first of year Short-eared Owl flight shot is always somewhat of a milestone for me.

 

1/3200, 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’m finally seeing a few more “shorties” in northern Utah this spring. Last year was a banner year for them around here and I’m still not sure this year will be as productive for them (and for me) as 2016 was but things are beginning to look up a little.

Two days ago I photographed this one perched on a metal post. I’d had several opportunities earlier that morning but they always took off away from me. This bird stared directly to its left for some time so I thought it was going to take off after prey in that direction which had the potential to give me an interesting twisting takeoff and a nice side view in flight.

 

 

1/3200, 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

But as they often do this owl didn’t follow my script and at the last second pushed off almost directly at me…

 

 

1/3200, 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

and then during the first down-stroke of its wings it split the difference between a right angle and a head-on takeoff and flew off obliquely to me. In the shot just prior to this one in the burst those incredibly long wings were almost perfectly vertical and I clipped both of them. The story of my life…

In the interest of full disclosure: The tip of another metal post poked into the frame at lower right and it was so ugly and distracting I got rid of the damn thing. Another seduction chalked up by the clone tool.

Because of all of our spring rains (we had another downpour last night) the countryside is finally greening up enough that my backgrounds are no longer that same old dead vegetation color that I’ve become weary of. The change is a welcome one.

Ron

 

Addendum: I’m adding this photo in response to a request from Marty K in a comment below. I remembered incorrectly when I wrote my text – I didn’t cut off both wings, only one. And as you can see, one eye is mostly shut.

However there’s something interesting about that eye. I don’t often see a photo of an owl, or any bird for that matter, where an eyelid is half closed and the nictitating membrane is also have closed at the same time.

 

 

39 Comments

  1. Beth Ann doerring

    Awesome photos! I don’t have any of the short ear – yet! Are these related to the barn owl at all? Their faces look somewhat similar.

  2. Ron,I was curious why you don’t show exposure adjustments ( EV) along with your other specs? Thanks, John

    • John, I used to do it sporadically but eventually I quit because I really don’t see its value. Most photographers, including me, typically adjust exposure during processing so reporting EV without also reporting precisely what you’ve done to exposure during processing seems rather meaningless to me…

  3. Thanks for posting that last shot, Ron! Wow — it looks like he’s pushing off from a single toe. And those wings! And the eye! Coolamatious!!! Wowzee wowwowwow!

  4. Great shots!
    I think that 3rd shot really shouts American farms to me (may sound odd). The type of post and green background. And of course, the owl.
    Also, a random question. Did you ever make a bow and arrow as a kid? I am making some lately and was wondering.
    Levi

  5. Poise, grace and style.
    I am glad that you were cajoled into including that final shot. The incredible size of those wings at full stretch is amazing. The first shot really gives no idea of just how BIG they are.

  6. Great shots Ron, pretty slim perch for this fellow to take off from.

  7. Charlotte Norton

    Nonetheless, fantastic shots Ron!

    Charlotte Norton

  8. Beautiful. Happy to see you are finding them again. We saw many on our travels over spring break. Makes my heart happy!

  9. More great photos of a beautiful owl!! Gotta plan a trip out west to see some of the wonderful birds you photograph!

  10. Wonderful images Ron. That combination of luck and skill, with just a bit of touch up, add up to beautiful work.

  11. Oh, that last shot is so striking with those long, long, long (always a little longer than I expect) wings, the crisp, white underside of the left wing, and that beautiful, fully fanned tail. Le sigh. 🙂

    I’d be interested in seeing the vertical-wing shot, even if they’re cut off. Plus, we don’t often get to see that pose and it’s one of my favorites. How bad could it be? Or has it already felt the wrath of your “trigger finger?” 😉

    • “How bad could it be?”

      It could be pretty bad, Marty. In a few minutes I’ll go back and see if I still have that shot. If I do I might…? post it for you.

  12. Just OH WOW! What a terrific series. We need several more superlative words to cover your work, but here’s the string of ridiculously redundant good-vibe words 🙂
    Once again, I have to wonder how these critters get the names applied to them. I wondered about that with the yellow-bellied marmot yesterday, too.

  13. Beautiful! I especially love the last image with his wings fully extended so you can really appreciate not just their amazing power, but all the spectacular colors and patterns. And then there are those talons! Very cool bird.

  14. Thise long, long wings and that frost-rimmed facial disc are so charactetistic of these essence-of-owl birds! Great shots!!!

  15. Love ’em, just love ’em. Wonderful shots!

  16. Great shots Ron. What a gorgeous creature!

  17. Good Capture and nice clean background Ron!

  18. WoW… caught the glint in the eye each time. Thank you for sharing with us, all.

  19. Beautiful! The first photo really shows how long their wings are and the “tucking up” they normally do when perched. The second photo really shows the work for take off and the third is just flat gorgeous! We’re doing the rain thing here also which is appreciated even if it means lawn mowing! 🙂

  20. Wow! Love the green background and sharp flight shots.

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