More Short Eared Owls

[NorthernFocus]

The owls are still hanging around. Tried to make a few captures including more of the habitat.

Recommend viewing in the light box.

Nikon D7200, 200-500mm f5.6E, handheld

1) Sitting on an old duck blind digesting lunch.

1/800, f8, ISO250


2) One of my favorite angles. Back lighting with a dark shaded BG.

1/1600, f5.6, ISO250


Nikon D500, 500mm f4G

3) A simple passing shot as the bird hunts soaring low over the grass. The BG is the side of a mountain in the distance.

1/2000s, f5.6, ISO250


4) OK, no habitat in this one...

1/1600, f7.1, ISO400

[Bobobird]

Fantastic shots.

Your SEOs are definitely not behaving like mine are. Ours don't even show themselves until it is almost dark.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[wilgk]

Wonderful series

[mugge]

Great shots.
Cheers Ole

[skitterbug]

Beautiful photos! I can't pick a favorite out of these because they are all well done!

I also appreciate that you post the settings that you used. It is helpful to me to see how others capture their photos. Thank you!

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for commenting, folks. Glad you enjoyed the photos.

...Your SEOs are definitely not behaving like mine are. Ours don't even show themselves until it is almost dark.

These are trending that way. Our first sighting of them was about 11AM five days ago. The next morning I went out bright and early thinking like most critters they'd be active at sunrise. Nothing. They started moving around noon. They show up later each day not getting active until about 3-4pm yesterday. So it seems they may be on some sort of lunar cycle.

This is the time of year that migratory raptors pass through this area. They show up ahead of the waterfowl. This is only our second winter in this house and last year the SEOs weren't here. Talking to some of the neighbors who have been here several years they indicate that they've never seen them around here. There are several of them. Minimum six and possibly a dozen or more within a mile or so stretch of tidal flat. Presumably they are passing through on there way northward to the open tundra. Though up there they would have to compete with snowies for nesting space/feeding grounds.

[Dave Humphries]

Lovely series Dan,

[rpcrowe]

Great series, I like them all but #4 is my absolute favorite...

[Jim A]

Great series and great story, Dan. Also very much like that you identified your settings.

[Bobobird]

Interesting.

Migration is a possibility but keep eyes open for possible nesting around your area.

Ours have been around the same area for a number of years and seen all year round. The only problem for me is the long long drive - almost 3 hours each way.

We used to have one nesting pretty close. One time up to 19 were seen. But they moved when development work disrupted the general area. Unfortunately well before I started taking pics.

[billtils]

Thanks for posting some showing the habitat Dan, but #4 is the one I like best .

[rudi]

Great series Dan, nr 4 is also my favourite.

[NorthernFocus]

Glad you folks enjoyed the photos. Thanks for commenting.

Bobo, these birds are definitely migratory. They don't stay around here during winter. But hopefully this is the end of the northward journey for some of them and they'll nest nearby. Right now the marsh is flooded with snow melt and we haven't seen a bird in a couple of days