Short-Eared Owls
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Short Eared Owl - Asio flammeus
Over much of its range, short-eared owls occurs with the similar-looking long-eared owl. At rest, the ear-tufts of long-eared owl serve to easily distinguish the two (although long-eared owls can sometimes hold its ear-tufts flat). The iris-colour differs: yellow in short-eared, and orange in long-eared, and the black surrounding the eyes is vertical on long-eared, and horizontal on short-eared. Overall the short-eared tends to be a paler, sandier bird than the long-eared.
The short-eared owl occurs on all continents except Antarctica and Australia; thus it has one of the most widespread distributions of any bird. A. flammeus breeds in Europe, Asia, North and South America, the Caribbean, Hawaii and the Galápagos Islands. It is partially migratory, moving south in winter from the northern parts of its range. The short-eared owl is known to relocate to areas of higher rodent populations. It will also wander nomadically in search of better food supplies during years when vole populations are low.
Hunting occurs mostly at night, but this owl is known to be diurnal and crepuscular as well. Its daylight hunting seems to coincide with the high-activity periods of voles, its preferred prey. It tends to fly only feet above the ground in open fields and grasslands until swooping down upon its prey feet-first. Several owls may hunt over the same open area. Its food consists mainly of rodents, especially voles, but it will eat other small mammals such as mice, ground squirrels, shrews, rats, bats, muskrats and moles. It will also occasionally predate smaller birds, especially when near sea-coasts and adjacent wetlands at which time they attack shorebirds, terns and small gulls and seabirds with semi-regularity. Avian prey is more infrequently preyed on inland and centers on passerines such as larks, icterids, starlings, tyrant flycatchers and pipits.
Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)
Taken yesterday at The Great Fen, Cambridgeshire
Not much light left in the day when one finally came within range.
ISO 2500, wide open (f5.6) @ 400mm, 1/500s
Another from Christmas. Still have a few more before i have to dig deeper in the archives
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Stay safe
More Owls at: harryhawkuk.wixsite.com/anns/short-eared-owls
What a day. We arrived at 7:30am and didn't leave till around 5:30pm. Many debates on where to be, upper or lower fields. We ended up at the Cold Soil side, on the paved path, about half way up. Things were looking dim during the morning hours, but around 4:30pm an explosion of 4 shorties happened. Amazing to see. We all had a great time.
The skies were mostly cloudy, sometimes a bad thing, but if it was clear out, this shot wouldn't happen. We would be shooting right into the sun. As it was, most of the 300 or so shots were shadowed bringing out some noise. Took a gamble shooting at half the speed I would normally shoot flight shots at.
Back to the Christmas folder again
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Stay safe
Beautiful and close - it sat there, right in front of us. In the wind, between hail and rain showers. Feel sorry for them who has to do with this horrible long lasting weather
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This lovely Owl didnt mind me being there
As we were heading to the car, it sat there in fading light. Giving me lot of time to get a shot to come out right. Thank you, Owl!
As always, many thanks for taking the time to view, fave and comment. That's very much appreciated