Fledgling Short-eared Owl hiding in grassesFledgling Short-eared Owl hiding in grasses – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

Yesterday I posted a Short-eared Owl in flight over a wet meadow and said that it was one of my favorite images taken that day in the Centennial Valley of Montana so I thought this morning I would post another on my favorites from that day.

The breeding season for Short-eared Owls is a bit later for the Centennial Valley of Montana than it is for northern Utah so I was able to photograph some Short-eared Owl fledglings while I was up north. I know that this hidden Short-eared Owl fledgling image isn’t one of my best because of the grasses in front of its face and the shadow of a stem falling on its left eye but I love it. The fledgling was so close to the edge of the road that I knew I could only take a portrait of it and even then it was going to be tricky trying to focus through the grasses so I focused on the eyes and took a short series of the young owl before moving on. This image is full frame using FX mode on my D810.

I suppose this image could have been better without those grasses in front of the fledgling owl’s face but for me this is how I often see these wild and wonderful fledglings nearly hidden in their world and safe from the eyes of predators. A lot of people might not have even noticed this young owl driving down the road but I sure did. This isn’t a million dollar image but I’d print it and hang it on my wall just because it speaks to me and I love it every bit as much as the Short-eared Owl in flight that I posted yesterday.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Short-eared Owl photos plus facts and information about this species.