Short eared owl

ByDawn

A wonderful first for me today. I’ve always wanted to see and photograph Short-eared owls, but I’ve never quite managed it, for some reason they have always eluded me. So today, on the advice of the wonderful and talented John Richardson (CLICK to have a look at his blog) I headed over to a beautiful stretch of Suffolk coastline. Soon after arriving, the astonishing sight of a brown patterned owl gliding nonchalantly across open water. Upon reaching the rough grass alongside the path, he began to hunt, buoyant in flight just like a Barn owl, but larger, more powerful. On long wings he quartered across the field, pouncing into the grass, and showing off his attractive brown and cream checker pattern markings. Hovering lightly in the breeze, allowing me a photo despite the terrible light, then gliding down the bank. With an attitude as fierce as his stunning yellow eyes, he silently slides past no more than ten paces away on rounded wings, ignoring his various watching admirers. An incredible experience that I won’t forget any time soon. I hope I’ll be able to get back there in better light, but for now, here’s something a bit artistic…

Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus, hunting, Suffolk. March

(Click images to view larger…)

If you like what you see, please consider sharing![social_share/]
UK & Eire Natural History Bloggers

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DawnMonroseNaturePhotography

Current favourite books, click for more info:

Similar Posts

  • On the Fen

    ByDawn

    Nice to get behind the lens again. Visited the Fen (Redgrave and Lopham Fen) this week. Lot’s of butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies about, as well as a couple of Kestrels, I had a lovely close encounter with one. Unfortunately I only had my macro lens with me! Here’s a slightly worn Speckled Wood butterfly. (With…

  • A few from the Fen

    ByDawn

    I’ve been visiting the Fen regularly and really getting to know the place and it’s wildlife. I was chuffed to photograph this Reed Bunting, who sat patiently in the reeds nearby as I set my camera up.   (Click images to view larger)

  • A Winter Visitor

    ByDawn

    Fieldfares are another one of my favourite birds. These gorgeous winter visitors come here from Scandinavia, presumably to escape the harsh winter weather. They flock together, feeding on windfall apples in the old orchard, conversing noisily with scolding chattering calls, unmistakeable with their beautiful slaty blue grey head, brown back, and cream speckled chest. This…

  • In the evening

    ByDawn

    With the lovely long days at this time of year, I can spend a few hours out on the fen after work. The atmosphere in the evening is very different to sunrise, which is when I’m normally there. The reeds buzz and flicker with insects, damselflies and dragonflies, birds cruise through the warm sky and…

  • Winter Wonderland

    ByDawn

    My first meaningful photography trip out this year, and what a beautiful morning. There’s nothing better at this time of year, crisp and frosty, and great light. Headed over to the fen and started trying to capture the frosty reeds and fen plants, a tough job with a 500mm lens, but at least it gives…

  • Yellow and Green

    ByDawn

    Oh the exquisite British Summer, hot, sunny and humid for a week or two then back to the dreary drizzle of rain. The slugs in my garden are alarmingly huge this year, and they have eaten their way through most of my bee friendly flowers, but the little patch of Golden Rod I’ve left is…

3 Comments

  1. Wow, what a lovely sight that must have been. I like the black and white photo, I think it shows the way he’s concentrating on searching for his prey in sharp detail. Well done.

Leave a Reply