Birds Short Eared Owls tonight

[Unframed Dave]

• ILCE-1
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/9
• 1/4000 sec
• ISO 2000

• ILCE-1
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/9
• 1/4000 sec
• ISO 2000

 

[Ralph]

We do have owls here but I have not got too may of them so I am quite jealous of these shots right at this moment.
But I am so please you were there at the right time and place to get these shots, so Dave well done mate.

 

[spudhead]

Really nice to see these Dave I have never seen one in the wild, so well done nice shots

 

[Unframed Dave]

Thanks both, I'm lucky enough to have this site on my doorstep. As the crow flies, It's less than a mile away.

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

It's just not on you now They never sit for me Nice shots. I have several hundred to go through...

 

[spudhead]

It's just not on you now They never sit for me Nice shots. I have several hundred to go through...

I assume you were shooting with Dave? so just wondering how you bagged hundreds of shots Kev with that loud shutter Kev and maybe Dave nailed the owl down

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

Yeah I was there ahead of him today, but I reckon he'd sneaked over the field with some gorilla glue for the post
As for the loud shutter, no one can here it over the wife's Nikon 7500

 

[spudhead]

Yeah I was there ahead of him today, but I reckon he'd sneaked over the field with some gorilla glue for the post
As for the loud shutter, no one can here it over the wife's Nikon 7500

It just sour grapes from me I would really like to see these owls out in the wild

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

They are stunning. You must get them up your way

 

[Deleted Member 5045]

Nice stuff!

 

[Unframed Dave]

Just by way of explanation, it comes down to the luck of the draw.

I personally know how many hours Kev puts into his hobby, the road miles and literally the painful knee grinding miles that he endures.

We have all seen and admired the shots that he produces which provide testament to both his technical skills and field craft.

Last night, I just got lucky and I've no doubt, kev also got some excellent shots. We just haven't seen them yet.

I live local to this raptor hot spot and have been up to snap them every evening and on occasional sunrises when the weather and my other commitments allow. Last night everything just aligned. I even left before the light went to nurse my hangover from the previous night.

The other day, I was chatting to a hospital volunteer who had little more than a passing interest in birds and absolutely none in photography. He said to me "surely once you've got a great photo of a bird, that's it?". Obviously I couldn't resist telling him not to call me Shirley, I mean, these opportunities are rare, but then tried to explain that I've never taken a photo I'm completely happy with and it's a continuous desire to do better next time.

Last night was magical, there were a few of us watching the owl on the post. Complete silence fell and you could cut the atmosphere as we waited for it to take off.

Getting the shot was quite something, seeing it on the screen was a huge relief but just being there amongst these majestic and often playful creatures is the stuff that makes life such a worthwhile ride.

Oh yeah, and if that clanky shutter is any where nearby, I just pop some warm cheese in my ear canals. I always carry a chunk in my trouser pockets just in case.

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

Just by way of explanation, it comes down to the luck of the draw.

I personally know how many hours Kev puts into his hobby, the road miles and literally the painful knee grinding miles that he endures.

We have all seen and admired the shots that he produces which provide testament to both his technical skills and field craft.

Last night, I just got lucky and I've no doubt, kev also got some excellent shots. We just haven't seen them yet.

I live local to this raptor hot spot and have been up to snap them every evening and on occasional sunrises when the weather and my other commitments allow. Last night everything just aligned. I even left before the light went to nurse my hangover from the previous night.

The other day, I was chatting to a hospital volunteer who had little more than a passing interest in birds and absolutely none in photography. He said to me "surely once you've got a great photo of a bird, that's it?". Obviously I couldn't resist telling him not to call me Shirley, I mean, these opportunities are rare, but then tried to explain that I've never taken a photo I'm completely happy with and it's a continuous desire to do better next time.

Last night was magical, there were a few of us watching the owl on the post. Complete silence fell and you could cut the atmosphere as we waited for it to take off.

Getting the shot was quite something, seeing it on the screen was a huge relief but just being there amongst these majestic and often playful creatures is the stuff that makes life such a worthwhile ride.

Oh yeah, and if that clanky shutter is any where nearby, I just pop some warm cheese in my ear canals. I always carry a chunk in my trouser pockets just in case.

It's completely down to timing and luck, exactly. We didn't walk back to the car park area because 4 of the owls were in front of us, and they so rarely sit close like this, though I have seen many shots in the past. I we had walked back when you arrived I'd be sharing the exact same photo, which would really be a bit daft anyway. There are definitely no sour grapes at all, it's all good fun and, yes, I have a lot of fabulous shots, my best ever SEO shots to be honest, because we could not have had better conditions. There will be an upload when I finish processing. At the moment I'm struggling to delete any! I still don't think I need an A1

 

[spudhead]

Just by way of explanation, it comes down to the luck of the draw.

I personally know how many hours Kev puts into his hobby, the road miles and literally the painful knee grinding miles that he endures.

We have all seen and admired the shots that he produces which provide testament to both his technical skills and field craft.

Last night, I just got lucky and I've no doubt, kev also got some excellent shots. We just haven't seen them yet.

I live local to this raptor hot spot and have been up to snap them every evening and on occasional sunrises when the weather and my other commitments allow. Last night everything just aligned. I even left before the light went to nurse my hangover from the previous night.

The other day, I was chatting to a hospital volunteer who had little more than a passing interest in birds and absolutely none in photography. He said to me "surely once you've got a great photo of a bird, that's it?". Obviously I couldn't resist telling him not to call me Shirley, I mean, these opportunities are rare, but then tried to explain that I've never taken a photo I'm completely happy with and it's a continuous desire to do better next time.

Last night was magical, there were a few of us watching the owl on the post. Complete silence fell and you could cut the atmosphere as we waited for it to take off.

Getting the shot was quite something, seeing it on the screen was a huge relief but just being there amongst these majestic and often playful creatures is the stuff that makes life such a worthwhile ride.

Oh yeah, and if that clanky shutter is any where nearby, I just pop some warm cheese in my ear canals. I always carry a chunk in my trouser pockets just in case.

Dave me Kev have a bit of banter going on it was not a dig at anyone more of a standing joke that keeps getting dragged up

 

[Unframed Dave]

Dave me Kev have a bit of banter going on it was not a dig at anyone more of a standing joke that keeps getting dragged up

Perhaps, the tone of my reply was ambiguous, I wasn't having a pop at anyone.

 

[Tim Mayo]

Awesome shots Dave! A pre-shooting option for the A1 would make nailing those takeoffs so much easier but it doesn't look like you need it!

 

[Ivanturas]

Thanks both, I'm lucky enough to have this site on my doorstep. As the crow flies, It's less than a mile away.

Those are awesome shots! Having them almost pose for you is indeed a feat... Have you seen them often? Or rather, have they seen you often? Owls do tend to recognize people and even begin building some trust. There's a few burrowing owls near our base that have got to the point of even calling us for help when dogs threat their burrows.

• ILCE-6400
• E PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS
• 105.0 mm
• ƒ/4.5
• 1/1000 sec
• ISO 500

 

[Unframed Dave]

Those are awesome shots! Having them almost pose for you is indeed a feat... Have you seen them often? Or rather, have they seen you often? Owls do tend to recognize people and even begin building some trust. There's a few burrowing owls near our base that have got to the point of even calling us for help when dogs threat their burrows.

They have taken up temporary winter residence here for the last three years that I know of. I'm able to go up to see them two to three times a week, but only go if the light is good. This year, we have seen up to five on any given evening. I don't believe they recognise people individually, but they are certainly familiar with the presence of birders, this year I am regularly seeing up to twenty people visiting. I have noticed that they are not keen on folks getting too close to them but they seem happy enough with coming close to us. The one below literally flew above our heads a couple of days ago.

• ILCE-1
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/32000 sec
• ISO 10000

 

[Ivanturas]

I don't believe they recognise people individually

Some owl species do! Wouldn't know about these in specific, though. Mostly burrowing, lesser horned and pigmies here within my particular area.