02/03/2023
SHORT-EARED OWL (𝘈𝘴𝘪𝘰 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘶𝘴)
Owls are captivating. They are mysterious, beautiful, and elusive. They are also, of course, mostly nocturnal, which makes things more than a little difficult for photographers. Short-eared owls offer a tantalizing opportunity to capture images because they begin hunting before the sun sets, in the last hour or so of golden light. On this cold and clear winter evening, we scanned the horizon over the rolling grassy fields, enjoying the quiet moments as the sun dropped lower. It is always a thrill to spot the silent, slow beats of a short-eared owl’s long wings as it flies low scanning for rodents, periodically diving on voles and mice. As I look at this image, the brief moment of connection when she turned to look directly at me is still fresh in my mind and still quickens my pulse. It takes a bit of luck to be in the right place for a photo, but when one comes close it makes for a rare and memorable wildlife encounter.
