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"A Burrowing Owl sticks the landing!"
Burrowing Owl
The Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) is a small, long-legged owl found throughout open landscapes of North and South America. Burrowing owls can be found in grasslands, rangelands, agricultural areas, deserts, or any other open dry area with low vegetation. They nest and roost in burrows, such as those excavated by prairie dogs. Unlike most owls, burrowing owls are often active during the day, although they tend to avoid the midday heat. Like many other kinds of owls, though, burrowing owls do most of their hunting from dusk until dawn, when they can use their night vision and hearing to their advantage. Living in open grasslands as opposed to forests, the burrowing owl has developed longer legs that enable it to sprint, as well as fly, when hunting.
Burrowing owls have bright eyes; their beaks can be dark yellow or gray depending on the subspecies. They lack ear tufts and have a flattened facial disc. The owls have prominent white eyebrows and a white "chin" patch which they expand and display during certain behaviors, such as a bobbing of the head when agitated.
For more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burrowing_owl
From The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Burrowing_Owl/overview
Many thanks for all your continued comments and faves, which are very much appreciated. Here's hoping for a travel restriction free 2022.
nice to get some shots from the hide across the woodland I quite often lose them in this area and get blurry shots
"Merlin in an Osprey nest."
Merlin
The Merlin (Falco columbarius) is a small species of Falcon from the Northern Hemisphere, with numerous subspecies throughout North America and Eurasia. A bird of prey once known colloquially as a Pigeon Hawk in North America, the Merlin breeds in the northern Holarctic; some migrate to subtropical and northern tropical regions in winter. Males typically have wingspans of 21–23 inches, with females being slightly larger. They are swift fliers and skilled hunters who specialize in preying on small birds in the size range of sparrows to quail. The Merlin has for centuries been well regarded as a Falconry Bird. In recent decades Merlin populations in North America have been significantly increasing, with some Merlin’s becoming so well adapted to city life that they forgo migration.
For more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merlin_(bird)
a couple from the car window coming home from work its lovely to see the red kites getting more common in Suffolk just need a bit of sunshine next time
After spending a couple of hours watching this area the previous night and seeing nothing I popped back in the early morning and was just walking to get in place when this little one landed in front of me :)
Watching , Studying, monitoring, photographing these wonderful birds, I had the great pleasure today after 5 years of working with farmers landowners gaining permission to be part of the countryside, and watch these barn owl close up reunited after a winter apart, over this period of time many have witnessed images I post of owls, I am lucky that this site gives me the opportunity to place perches with clear back drops, to grab flight images of owls, without even taking any notice. I have learnt over this period how to work a site but it's all only come together a few times a year, thankfully 2023 has been so far that time.