Burrowing owls, Salton Sea

JohnDC

I spent last weekend at the Salton Sea (in the Southern California desert). At 100 degrees F (38 C), the only animals in the open were me and the burrowing owls, and even the owls had enough sense to hide out in the afternoon. This is nesting season, and the owls were near their burrows.

Please click your reload button (the circular arrows) if all 4 photos do not appear.

1.


2. These two moved around together and appeared to be a mated pair.


3. By mid-morning it is hot, and this owl is panting. The owls varied in size and color. This one had a much whiter face and more "hairy" legs.


4. The pensive owl.

Harryb

Nice set, love the eye on the 3rd shot.

Maestro

That third shot is really neat. I noticed the band. Does some organization track these owls?

jwear

I am only looking at the 3rd shot ?? others are not there but this one is great you made another trip I still have not made it -how long do you think the owls will be around ??

JohnDC

Maestro wrote:

That third shot is really neat. I noticed the band. Does some organization track these owls?

Thanks! Several of the owls were banded--I need to check with the Reserve to see if anyone is interested in the band numbers (or at least the portion showing).

JohnDC

jwear wrote:

I am only looking at the 3rd shot ?? others are not there but this one is great you made another trip I still have not made it -how long do you think the owls will be around ??

Jeff --- There is a recurring problem that the links don't always work for the photos, so you have to click your reload button (the circular arrows) a few times to get all the photos to come up. There should be four. Do you know if there is a better way to post the photos than using the picture icon button to link to a url?

The owls should be there for at least another month or two. I saw no owlets around the burrows openings, so I assume the young still have to grow up and fledge before the adults will leave. This means a whole new set of photo opportunities coming up--the little owls perching with their parents.

Skippy

JohnDC wrote:

I spent last weekend at the Salton Sea (in the Southern California desert). At 100 degrees F (38 C), the only animals in the open were me and the burrowing owls, and even the owls had enough sense to hide out in the afternoon. This is nesting season, and the owls were near their burrows.
Please click your reload button (the circular arrows) if all 4 photos do not appear.
1.
2. These two moved around together and appeared to be a mated pair.
3. By mid-morning it is hot, and this owl is panting. The owls varied in size and color. This one had a much whiter face and more "hairy" legs.
4. The pensive owl.

Wow John these are excellent well done ! .... Skippy
.

raptorcaptor

Took me a few tries to get the photos to show up! Well worth the effort!

azalinsky

I love these...I actually had a stuffed owl as little kid, how weird is that!! Have seen a few here in NH but have never had my D70 at hand - now it never leaves my side! Terrific shots.