Eight days ago I had an absolute blast photographing fighting Short-eared Owls, even though that was the morning the owls were always backlit or sidelit. This morning it was my intention to post a series of over a dozen photos of them performing their aerial dogfights but last evening I quickly learned that doing so was going to be more than I could handle.
I won’t go into all of the unpleasant details, other than to say that I’ve heard from others that the second and third day after major surgery are the worst and now I believe them. I’ve been laid low by pain and lack of sleep and sitting at my computer has been a challenge so a long post like I planned has to be put on the back burner.
But last night the pain finally began to subside and I actually got some sleep so this morning I couldn’t resist posting a teaser.
1/6400, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I believe the fighting owls were both adult males but it’s possible that they were a mated pair that were only sparring with each other. Whatever the case, getting them both in frame and reasonably sharp was a challenge. Here the owl at bottom has turned upside down, presumably to present its talons defensively to the incoming bird.
The two owls attacked each other in the air repeatedly. After an encounter they’d separate and then come at each other again. The trick was timing my shots so I had both birds in the frame. Sometimes I succeeded and more often I failed.
But it sure was fun and it lasted long enough to give me a significant amount of valuable practice with my relatively new camera.
Ron
Neat capture and so fun to watch!
Fantastic. More please!
Funny how pain ramps up a couple days after a procedure. Hopefully a steady decrease has started to show. Healing is a wonderful thing. Wishing the best for you.
Thanks very much, Michael.
All previous SEO pics you’ve posted have been, generally, of calm, rather subdued birds on a perch or in flight after prey—so it’s hard to imagine them tearing tooth and talon at one another like this. But of course, I know better. I just hope there’s no blood (or guts) in the images to come!
And, as others have said—take it easy in this comeback of yours, we can wait for the rest of the story while you give yourself much needed recuperation time.
Nope, there’s nothing graphic coming down the pike Chris – just these two owls going at it in the air, with no blood. Or guts.
A truly wonderful teaser, and reading through the comments I am very, very pleased that you are feeling better. Onwards and upwards.
Thank you, EC.
Great shots, and indeed, we will look forward to the show later, but your well-being come first!
I’ve had 2 knee replacements and I found staying off the major pain meds (they simply didn’t work for me!) and using ice along with a CBD-herbal tincture (legal here in Oregon) that is locally made really helped. Two surgeries, two vastly different recoveries, way faster recovery without opioids, and overall better outcome, so I get the pain med avoiding!
We will enjoy knowing you are taking care of YOU first, as we will happily wait for your patient recovery!
Barbara, I have a pretty neat little machine, left over from my last surgery, that pumps ice water into a pad that I put over the incision. I believe that thing really helps.
It’s great to see you back so soon in even limited action after such major surgery.
Thank you, John.
Exciting teaser photo, Ron!! Can’t wait for the main Owly v Frowlzier event. More importantly, you have been on my mind hoping that your surgery went well and your post-op pain is minimal. The third day blues and pain is normal but that doesn’t help, does it. Here’s to less pain and continued improvement. You certainly have lots of devoted admirers praying and pulling for you!
Thanks, Melanie. I just got up from a long nap. It feels delicious to actually be able to sleep!
wow – the seo on oregon are only out at sunset and bad light – i have only been able to photo seo in skagit in washington – you obviously have SEO possibilities in salt lake – guess i need to drive the 10 hrs to photo them –
so sorry about the water in the lake –
Barb, when they’re feeding youngsters, as these owls almost certainly were, they have to hunt more often so we see them longer in the day.
Not sure which one is the Red Baron, or Snoopy playing him, but there’s no question who’s Topsy and who’s Turvy, at least in the moment this photo was taken. What a thrill to witness this, although i imagine the R5’s eye detection wasn’t of much use.
I don’t blame you for not wanting to take the heavy pain meds. I’d rather be alert and in pain than drug-addled and still in pain, which is the effect they have on me. Easy for me to say, never having had major surgery, back or otherwise.
Lyle, in this situation, as you say, eye detection wasn’t useful but the animal detection was. And it worked flawlessly.
A short post of Short-eared Owls is just fine. Glad you even had the strength and pain tolerance to even post this one Ron. Must have been really fun to have watched them go through these acrobatics.
Take your time and don’t rush anything and let that back heal.
It WAS fun, Everett. And it was completely unexpected – it’s been a very long time since I’ve photographed fighting owls of any species.
A VERY DRAMATIC shot ! I certainly enjoyed seeing it…….but know that I
( and, I’m sure, the rest of your posse ) value your recovery more than anything…….I hope you’re not being stubborn about using pain meds when
you need them ( maybe even BEFORE you need them )–I wish you good
sleep, and dreams of beauty ( probably of birds ).
Kris, I probably have been a little stubborn in that regard.
Well that sure is a wonderful teaser!
Glad you think so, Duane. Thanks.
NEAT! Never thought of owls behaving like other raptors that way…… 🙂 Glad things have improved pain wise and, hopefully, they will continue to do so. Sounds like nerves that may have been “asleep” decided to come to life – a good news/bad news thing.
Judy, as far as I’m concerned those suckers can go back to sleep!
Fabulous photos! Hope the progress toward “healed” is direct now, with no U turns in pain.
Thanks, Nancy.
I empathize. Disk surgery is not for the faint of heart, right? I hate when we are forced by our bodies to be patient. It looks better every day starting tomorrow, though. Thanks for all you teach us.
“Disk surgery is not for the faint of heart”
Suzanne, maybe that’s why this recovery has been so much worse than the last one, which didn’t involve disc removal.
Ron, I hope you feel long-term-much-better soon!
Thanks, Richard. I think I may have turned the corner.
Wow! Thank you! What a great shot! WWI revisited. Did not know any bird of prey did this. Fascinating, (I think I like the photo!)
“WWI revisited”
I wonder which owl is The Red Baron… 🙂