Short-eared Owls.

 During the late winter, I spent a lot of time watching and photographing the Short-eared Owls that were using a rough meadow in the Ouse valley.

Over the years I have often tried to get some good photos of these beautiful birds, but with little success. With a much more concerted effort this winter, and with the birds being quite local, it was easier to spend the hours needed to learn their habits. It certainly was a lot of hours spent, but most were very enjoyable, although there were a few sessions that the birds did not show.

The best session was had when Paul lent me his 600mm lens, and I was also on a small step to help me get above the reedbed, because I am not exactly the tallest bloke around!! I loved the lens so much I immediately bought one, and although I won't use that lens much in the summer, when the macro comes back out, I am looking forward already to using it next autumn and winter, especially when Lisa and I head up to Scotland.

I took so many photos of the owls, it is difficult to sort out which ones to post, but here follows some of my favourite ones from many visits.

The first 4 images were shot in a short sequence as the owl hunted in front of me.

The Owl cruised along searching.

Suddenly, it detects a Vole and it's breaks on.

The Owl overshot the Vole but quickly turns.

Going in for the kill with talons at the ready.

Shortly after this the Owl flies past watching us, watching him.

And giving us a wave.

On another day I ventured further along to a gate with a clearer view. On this particular day I was totally on my own, so from this viewpoint I hoped to get a paler bird that always stayed at that end of the meadow. The biggest issue at this end was that often the sun was a little in front, so it could cause issues if the bird went to the left. I did however, get a couple of shots that I quite liked, as they were a little different, shooting towards the sun.

Into the light.

On this particular day, I was also lucky to get one of the owls sitting on a post in the meadow, that someone had presumably placed there hoping themselves for such a sighting. Being on my own I risked putting up the small step and climbing up to get over the reedbed again. Fortunately, the owl stayed there giving me a fabulous opportunity, despite me fiddling about with the step and a tripod.

Short-eared Owl hunting from the post.

On another day one of the owls was very much in hunting mode, and several times it detected prey by hovering over the ground and diving down hoping to catch, not always successfully.

Hover mode.

On another day, when there was only 4 of us there including Paul and David, one of the owls landed on the top of one of the bushes near the river bank. Although it was quite some distance away, I decided to walk quickly towards the bush, just hoping that the owl would stay. David followed just behind me. As we got nearer we were both surprised that the owl stayed on top of the bush. We kept moving slowly along the bank, taking photos as we went, hoping to get in a position where there would be no twigs in the way. Eventually we were in the best position, and several more photos were taken. David started to walk back to the others, and I started to follow him, when the owl suddenly dropped down off the bush and landed on the post that I had the one on before. David didn't spot this until he was back with the others, and I obviously couldn't shout after him, so I had the owl back on the post again, all to myself. By this time the light had faded quite a bit, and there was only just enough light left to photograph the owl. It was certainly a magical moment though, being so close to such a beautiful bird.

Short-eared Owl back on the post, after posing on the bush.

There were so many other images taken, but these were probably my favourite ones. Now that the owls have left the area, it's a long wait for next winter to see if some Short-eared Owls settle in an area nearby again.

And it's goodbye from him!!