I’ve been having fun photographing Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia) lately and it is a joy to have them in my viewfinder again.
Adult Burrowing Owl lifting off – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 350mm, natural light, not baited
The light I had when I photographed this adult owl lifting off from the Sagebrush wasn’t ideal, I would have liked more shutter speed to freeze the motion. The brighter area at the top of the frame is a strip of sand on the shoreline of the Great Salt Lake.
What happened after this frame was very interesting because the owl came closer to me and snatched a dragonfly from the air then flew off with it to the ground near another bush. I have never seen a Burrowing Owl do that before.
Mia
Love this photo, the wing curves are so neat!
Thanks Nicole, so good to hear from you!
Love the photo, it is wonderful. I don’t see Owls very often, but I have seen a Merlin catch a Bumble Bee
in mid-air. Such a fascinating thing to observe.
Thanks Susan, it was fascinating to see the owl grab the dragonfly.
I agree with everyone else. I thing the blur adds to the photo. I also like the way the owl is looking. It’s just a neat shot! It’s also cool that you witnessed the owl catching a dragonfly.
Thank you Steve, I appreciate you comment very much!
He’s fantastic. The light is perfect. Carol
Thank you carol, the light was great!
Great Tone and the blend of all the colors in the photograph is perfect. But he only has one eye though 😉
Thank you Stu!
Lovely, I like how the colors in the front are the same as the soft background. I have your burrowing owl juvenile on my desktop. It is always a pleasure to start my computer and see who is waiting.
Sheila, thanks for your comment, I am glad you get pleasure with my Burrowing Owl wallpaper.
Good morning..the shot is perfect..the blur adds to the motion..there was a wildlife artist many years ago from the Black Forest in Germany who blurred all motion..incredible..Love this piece..
Thank you Syl!
I agree with Kathleen, I think that you caught just enough blur to make it show the motion. Gorgeous photo, Mia.
Thanks very much for your kind comment Bob!
LOVE the light and DOF in this image! I, personally, rather like wingtip blur as it donotes ‘movement’ in the image. I am a little disappointed though – you didn’t capture the owl WITH the dragonfly in its beak! 🙂
Thanks Kath, I WISH I had been able to capture the owl snagging the dragonfly but it was actually too close!