Burrowing Owl

Gallery: AvianPosted March 31, 2011183 views14 comments

Athene cunicularia

I found this Burrowing Owl near the Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve in Cape Coral, Florida. It was nice to find a burrow in a more natural area. Many of the owls are found in the developed part of the city in manicured areas.

1/800, f6.3, ISO 200
7D, 500mm f4L IS
70% of Full Frame

All comments and critique very appreciated.
Thank You.

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Ken Canning on March 31, 2011 at 9:46 PM

That's great Matt. I like head to toe portrait and great detail. I'd love to get a chance to photograph these little guys.

Registered on February 10, 2004, 88 Posts, 549 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 31, 2011 at 10:24 PM

Always nice to encounter. Image shows good technicals: proper exposure, god detail. Colors are natural; composition works.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on March 31, 2011 at 10:27 PM

really nice all-around, Matt. great detail, nice pose and comp. I like the diagonal line of the sand.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on March 31, 2011 at 10:42 PM

This is a very nice image in some great light, Matt. The diagonal line of sand, open eye, comp and background all work very well. Exposure techs also look very good. The larger version really shines. Thanks for sharing this.

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 1, 2011 at 1:17 AM

Matt - Cape Coral is great, but - you're right - shooting the owls in vacant lots next to houses and public buildings feels very weird!
I'll remember this place!

Nice image - good pose, very nice detail, great comp - and the natural sand is much better than the grass usually seen.

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by John Blumenkamp on April 1, 2011 at 3:39 AM

Hi Matt... beautiful capture with some sweet light and great detail. I love seeing both feet in clear view here... nice work!

Registered on February 26, 2011, 58 Posts, 313 Comments

Comment posted by Michele Williams on April 1, 2011 at 7:44 AM

Matt, This is a beautiful capture of the burrowing owl. The fact that you got the head to toe makes it unusual because their feet are often hidden by grass or topography. The detail is great all the way from the eye to the toenails!

I wonder ... was the spouse around? I'm guessing this is a female based on the relatively dark color. Usually the male looks a little bleached out relative to the female because he spends more time outside guarding the burrow. It's easier to differentiate when you see them together.

Registered on April 3, 2010, 28 Posts, 146 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on April 1, 2011 at 11:14 AM

Like the complimentary background color and the eye really stands out. Great detail as well.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on April 1, 2011 at 11:27 AM

The creamy bg makes the most out of all that detail. Love the one yellow eye and pose. Appealing image, Matt.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on April 1, 2011 at 3:16 PM

What a nice find, I have yet to see one of these. I like the feather detail, eye, background and sand on the larger image, excellent shot, well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on April 1, 2011 at 3:32 PM

Very nice Matt. The BG really looks so much nicer than you can typically get when working with some of the empty lot nests. Nice comp and detail.

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on April 1, 2011 at 11:58 PM

Everything looks top shelf Matt, no nits, nada..
This bird looks so cool, too cool for you

Very well done & have a great weekend

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on April 2, 2011 at 7:39 AM

It all comes together here, well done!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on April 2, 2011 at 10:27 PM

Matt, I have yet to see one of these guys as well as get a chance ata nice photo of one. I'd take this one. The eye is amazing and I like the sand at the feet

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments