Short-eared Owl

I added a new species to my digital photo library today, a Short-eared Owl.

Gary

Congratulations! Very nice photo of the Owl too!

There was a sighting of three Short-eared Owls behind Anchorage International Airport yesterday, posted on AK Birding. I checked this afternoon and located one.

The Owl is so well camouflaged it nearly disappears into the background in wider angle view. They are difficult to spot in the trees.

Nice photos Gary ......... good job !!!

Yer Welcome. LOL
D

My girlfriend works at the airport - for Everts Air. There are some great sightings of wildlife out there. I'll have to let her know about this. Nice picture. An owl in the daytime. That doesn't happen so often, does it?

Well done Gary!! Thanks for sharing them w/ us.

Hi Doug!

So 2 pm was unusual. Maybe he couldn't sleep and was up for a nighttime snack.

Wow really nice.

Very nice owl pic!! Congratulations!
I have been chasing our Barred Owl the last 3 nights and still didn't get him. My neighbors would think I'm nuts out at night with my camera if they saw me!! LOL

Really nice picture. Never saw one of these, although I have heard them around.
Great catch. Thanks for sharing.

We found the Short-eared Owl again today. Between 2 & 3 PM it was hunting over the airport land, most of the time out of sight. Several times it landed in the trees near the road, for a short rest. The first try it flew before I was anywhere near, approaching on foot. The second try it let me get almost under his perch.
Gary

very nice!!

Gorgeous pose Gary. Very nice indeed!

Lift off and over the airport fence, on another hunt. Still hunting for a fat vole for dinner.

Just amazes how quietly they can fly! When they look at you it's like they are looking right thru you!

A new close up of the Short-eared Owl. He was very cooperative posing for me today. I took lots of pictures.
Gary

Now that's publication-worthy. Fantastic job. What's the temp up there today?

That is a beautiful pic Gary!!

I think he must be getting used to you & has pegged you as owl-friendly!

The Owl was perched down low, about 2' above the snow. The snow was thigh deep, and I was cold and wet after wading in for the close up shots. We got about 6" of new snow last night. By noon there were blue skys with the temp. in the teens F. By evening the clouds from the next storm were moving in.
Gary

Oooh. The teens. Downright warm. LOL Sounds like you had a workout what with tramping through 6" of new snow.

So you're thinking that this is the same owl still? I'm amazed that he's hanging so coolly in the daylight. But you have some awesome photos there.

Thigh deep snow?? You the Man,Gary!!!

He sure is beautiful!

Gary,

All beautiful pics/shots of the beautiful Owl!

Thanks for sharing!

DH is an Airline Pilot at CVG ( Northern KY - Cincinnati, OH Airport ) in KY and he sees Red Tailed Hawks frequently sitting on taxi signs on airport property while he's taxing the jet to and from the runway.

We have a road that parallel one of the 4 runways that we see Red Tails sitting on the 'double bar wire fence' looking for meals. Same as the Hawks that sit on the taxi signs. They sit and wait for the rumbling of the jet vibrations for the mice to appear and scatter.

Marilyn