Short-eared Owl in flight

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Short-eared Owl in flight
Photo Information
Copyright: Pekka Valo (pekkavalo1) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 241 W: 21 N: 861] (2657)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-03-30
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 40D, Sigma EX 500mm f4.5 APO HSM, Kenko Teleplus Pro 300 DG 1.4x
Exposure: f/8, 1/800 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): CeltickRanger's favorite Bird of Prey photos [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-04-01 1:17
Viewed: 386
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Short-eared Owl in RSPB Elmley Marshes reserve.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

The Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) is a species of typical owl (family Strigidae). Owls belonging to genus Asio are known as the eared owls, as they have tufts of feathers resembling mammalian ears. These "ear" tufts may or may not be visible. Asio flammeus will display its tufts when in a defensive pose. However, its very short tufts are usually not visible. The Short-eared Owl is found in open country and grasslands. The word flammeus is Latin for "flaming, or the color of fire".

Appearance
Asio flammeus, the Short-eared Owl, is a medium-sized owl averaging 34–43 cm (13 to 17 inches) in length and weighing 206–475 grams (11 to 13 ounces). It has large eyes, big head, short neck, and broad wings. Its bill is short, strong, hooked and black. Its plumage is mottled tawny to brown with a barred tail and wings. The upper breast is significantly streaked. Wingspans range from 85 to 103 cm (38 to 44 inches). Females are slightly larger than males. The yellow-orange eyes of A. flammeus are exaggerated by black rings encircling each eye, and large, whitish disks of plumage surrounding the eyes like a mask.

Geographic range
The Short-eared Owl occurs on all continents except Antarctica and Australia; thus it has one of the largest distributions of any bird. A. flammeus breeds in Europe, Asia, North and South America, the Caribbean, Hawaii and the Galápagos Islands. It is partially migratory, moving south in winter from the northern parts of its range. The Short-eared Owl is known to relocate to areas of higher rodent populations. It will also wander nomadically in search of better food supplies during years when vole populations are low.

Nesting and reproduction
The Short-eared Owl nests on the ground in prairie, tundra, savanna, or meadow habitats. Nests are concealed by low vegetation, and may be lightly lined by weeds, grass, or feathers. Approximately 4 to 7 white eggs are found in a typical clutch, but clutch size can reach up to a dozen eggs in years when voles are abundant. There is one brood per year. The eggs are incubated mostly by the female for 21–37 days. Offspring fledge at a little over four weeks. This owl is known to lure predators away from its nest by appearing to have a crippled wing.

Breeding
Sexual maturity is attained at one year. Breeding season in the northern hemisphere lasts from March to June, peaking in April. During this time these owls may gather in flocks. During breeding season, the males make great spectacles of themselves in flight to attract females. The male swoops down over the nest flapping its wings in a courtship display. These owls are generally monogamous.

Diet and foraging habits
Hunting occurs mostly at night, but this owl is diurnal and crepuscular as well as nocturnal. It tends to fly only feet above the ground in open fields and grasslands until swooping down upon its prey feet-first. Several owls may hunt over the same open area. Its food consists mainly of rodents, especially voles, but it will eat other small mammals and some large insects. Sometimes it even tends to eat smaller birds. Its flight is characteristically floppy due to its irregular wingbeats. The Short-eared Owl may also be described as "moth or bat-like" in flight.

Calls
Short-eared Owls have a scratchy bark-like call. Raspy waowk, waowk, waowk or toot-toot-toot-toot-toot sounds are common. A loud eeee-yerp is also heard on breeding grounds. However, Short-eared Owls are silent on the wintering grounds.
darwin, Raptorman, bobcat08, jaycee, maurydv, CeltickRanger has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

great pic, a little too bright, but u can fix this easily, TFS Ori

Hi Pekka
Great inflight action shot
tfs jon

Rare species for Turkey , good flight capture , TFS .

Hi Pekka,
Great in flight shot, just a little over exposure.
TFS
Wei

Slav Pekka,
Te kund(Owl) li hewa xweşik zevtkiriye ű rind kişandiye.Spas ji bo barkirinę.
Dűrzan.

  • Great 
  • Necipp Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1150 W: 15 N: 2074] (12392)
  • [2008-04-01 11:25]

Hello Pekka a fine sharp shot with a fine POV, Nicely composed with space in front tfs Rgds Necip.

Hello Pekka,

What a beautiful low level inflight of this Short-eared Owl. It´s nice that you show us the complete enviroment where this Owl hunts. Wonderful. Natural colors. Great composition. POV, DOF and BG are good. Wonderful eyecontact. Great shot. Have a nice day and TFS BOB

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1675 W: 8 N: 4022] (13255)
  • [2008-04-01 14:39]

Hi Pekka,

This picture has a wonderful 3-D effect. The owl seems to be flying right out of the picture. The owl looks great even against the too bright background.

Jane

Bellissimo volo radente di gufo di palude, bella composizione ambientata, ottimo POV, i colori un po' chiari, Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

hello Pekka

great in-flight shot of the Short-eared Owl with a fine POV
and very excellent framing, we kno from where the subject
is coming and where is going, excellent DOF,

i gived a workshop tou your image to give a contrast
and giving the contrast we won on the details, hopefully it will
be useful for a futur shot in the same sitauation,

TFS

Asbed

Hi Pekkka,

Lovely in-flight shot of this owl. I like the overall composition; not too close on the bird so we really get a sense of the natural environment and scale. The composition is perfect and I love the look of concentration on the owl's face. Well done.

Mike

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