Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
Juvie Burrowing Owl
‹ PreviousAvian GalleryNext ›

Juvie Burrowing Owl

by Mia McPherson

Gallery: AvianPosted February 14, 2010212 views25 comments
Athene cunicularia

As the weather starts to warm up here I am looking forward to when the Burrowing Owls come back. The juveniles are especially animated, I wonder where they learn to make all the funny faces.

In this case the young owl had just finished stretching, I guess it felt shockingly good?

D200, lens resting on pickup window, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 200, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural early morning light, not baited. Cropped from a vertical to horizontal. Background is dried grasses and sagebrush. This was taken last July, right after I moved to Utah.

This image makes me laugh when I see it, hope you enjoy it too. Please use the larger image for evaluating the details.

As always, I sincerely appreciate your comments & critques. Thank you for looking

Comments

25 comments
Comment posted by Doug Gilham on February 14, 2010 at 6:19 PM
Very nice detail Mia, love the habitat and the owl is tack sharp. Hope to get a few shots of these myself in 2 weeks when I head down to Sanibel and hope they come out this nice.
Registered on September 20, 2009, 77 Posts, 489 Comments
Comment posted by Joel DeYoung on February 14, 2010 at 6:28 PM
That face is hilarious! Great detail in the bird and nice composition. Those eyes are fantastic. :toast: :toast:
Registered on July 12, 2009, 92 Posts, 1074 Comments
Comment posted by John Kerr on February 14, 2010 at 7:01 PM
I never tire of seeing these Burrowing Owl pictures. Such a cool looking bird. Great detail and sharpness as with all your photos. Great job. :smile:
Registered on October 28, 2009, 111 Posts, 1070 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Moore on February 14, 2010 at 7:15 PM
You chuckled at my Ibis but I had to laugh at the Owl! I can envision it sticking its toung out in the next second. Lots of character

Dan
Registered on February 11, 2010, 143 Posts, 1248 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Wintergren on February 14, 2010 at 7:29 PM
Very nice shot, everything is good here! :toast:
Registered on January 24, 2010, 15 Posts, 174 Comments
Comment posted by Joe Paratore on February 14, 2010 at 7:49 PM
I just....... :smile: when I open up this post
They always have the funniest expressions on their faces.rolleyes:
Nice background like the rock it is perched on.
Very Nice Mia :toast:
Registered on January 31, 2007, 40 Posts, 160 Comments
Comment posted by Steve Balke on February 14, 2010 at 8:25 PM
I've never seen one of these birds, Mia. What a strange and comic expression! As usual, I really like the way you are able to use light in your photography. For some reason this one reminds me of an oil painting. It's very subdued: the bird does not "really pop" from the frame. However, it's quietly beautiful...and funny. :toast:
Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments
Comment posted by Keith Bauer on February 14, 2010 at 9:09 PM
Cute little one. Sharp where it needs to be. I wish the bird was higher in the frame. For me there is too much above the bird. Maybe the rock in the bottom precluded you from getting anything lower. Still a nice image to have.
Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 14, 2010 at 9:39 PM
A delightful image. Great pose, fine composition, top rate technicals.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments
Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on February 14, 2010 at 11:35 PM
I've seen this expression many times before. It's the look that my wife gives me when she sees another lens on the Visa bill. It's tough to take a photo of these birds that doesn't show off their comical demeanor. Great techs too, Mia! :toast:
Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments
Comment posted by KC Choo on February 15, 2010 at 1:55 AM
This is too funny! Great shot!
Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments
Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on February 15, 2010 at 2:48 AM
Very cool Mia, I like this image very much! The eyes of theOwl are really impressive! :toast:
Mauro
Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments
Comment posted by Ed Dubois on February 15, 2010 at 2:56 AM
It's funny how elastic the faces of these young owls are. Cool shot Mia and thanks for the smile!
Registered on February 22, 2005, 129 Posts, 4739 Comments
Comment posted by Graham Brown on February 15, 2010 at 5:54 AM
Never seen these birds but thier eyes are very expressive. Like the habitat background and you've controlled the exposure very well. Graham
Registered on November 20, 2007, 275 Posts, 1365 Comments
Comment posted by Jay Martin on February 15, 2010 at 6:07 AM
"Do I have a fly on my beak" :smile: Great shot Mia. Just enough detail in the sagebrush in the near BG. well done.
Registered on December 6, 2005, 200 Posts, 2209 Comments
Comment posted by Michael Lotito on February 15, 2010 at 6:31 AM
Mia,

What a lovely subject! Very well done.
Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 15, 2010 at 6:42 AM
Great expression Mia - looks like its giving something the evil-eye.

cheers
Rob
Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on February 15, 2010 at 7:43 AM
Mia, this makes me laugh. The cross-eyed look. Great image overall. I love the light and the near and far BG vege and colors. Well done as usual.
Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments
Comment posted by Sally King on February 15, 2010 at 10:57 AM
Sweet. I hope you have equally good luck with them this summer. Those feet are great.
Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments
Comment posted by David Sparks on February 15, 2010 at 11:03 AM
Mia:
These owls certainly are animated. It's difficult to imagine a BG that would distract attention from the birds. This one seems to be inspecting the tip of the beak. I like the imperial pose and oof bg.
Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments
Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on February 15, 2010 at 11:35 AM
Mia, I couldn't agree with you more about these owls. They are so much fun to watch and photograph. I am also looking forward to it.

BTW, great shot! I like the comp and colors...plus the eys are mesmerizing! yes the look did make me laugh :biggrin:
Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Archer on February 15, 2010 at 2:54 PM
:biggrin: Great Expression :biggrin: Another sweet one Mia!

Ken Archer
Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments
Comment posted by Simon Bennett on February 15, 2010 at 4:12 PM
Most interesting pose and wonderful tones in background.
Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Saunders on February 16, 2010 at 2:38 PM
Delightful image Mia. :toast:
Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments
Comment posted by Satie Sharma on February 18, 2010 at 12:56 PM
I missed this one. Lovely light, pose and plumage here, Mia. That expression is really funny. :biggrin: :toast:
Registered on November 11, 2003, 189 Posts, 5335 Comments