SEO Attacking a Coyote

Gallery: AvianPosted July 7, 2011285 views22 comments

Had an incredible experience with SEO's and a coyote yesterday morning. The coyote spent about 15 minutes poking around very close to the apparent nest of the owls and to say that the owls took exception to it is an understatement - they dived on the coyote many times. Vegetation was so high that we usually couldn't see the coyote but I concentrated on trying to get the owl at the bottom of its dives and hoped to get the coyote to show its head. This was my best result. Immediately after the coyote left, the owls attacked invading ravens. Very exciting!

I realize that this is a little different and may not appeal to some because the coyote isn't sharp and settings don't come much busier than this but I thought the behavior/action worthy of a post.

More on my blog if you're so inclined.

7D, 1/1000, f/7.1, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, shot from pickup window on 7/6/11, cropped to 50% of original image, exposure adjustment in ACR, sharpened bird only, no additional processing or adjustments, natural light, not set up or baited

Larger image provided

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

22 comments

Comment posted by Carol Nichols on July 7, 2011 at 8:05 PM

Extremely interesting behavior image Ron. The owl looks like he's ready to dive bomb the coyote. The busy background doesn't bother me nor does the OOF coyote. The sharpness of the owl puts the emphasis on his behavior.

Registered on November 7, 2007, 161 Posts, 1420 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on July 7, 2011 at 8:53 PM

cool, Ron! I like the intent look of the owl and the seemingly oblivious (and smiling) coyote. definitely worth posting. do you have any more pixels on the bottom? it would be interesting to see this as a vertical.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on July 7, 2011 at 9:02 PM

Thanks Brian. Nope, nothing left down there. I had the same thought...

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on July 7, 2011 at 9:43 PM

Great capture, certainly is an incredible experience. Love the coyote peeking up from the brush, doesn't look as if he's aware the owl is right behind him.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on July 7, 2011 at 10:45 PM

Great behavioral shot and description of the action.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on July 7, 2011 at 11:16 PM

really cool to see two species like this interacting - the intent stare of the owl is great and even though the coyote is a bit obscured, that "goofy" look on its face is priceless knowing that an owl is coming and fast!

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 8, 2011 at 12:00 AM

Very neat, Ron. Did they just strafe him or did they try to use their talons? I certainly don't mind the busy bg in this one.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by David Williams on July 8, 2011 at 12:02 AM

I like it, Ron. The long grass does make it tough, but that's just how it is. The owl is really on a mission here.....great moment captured.

Registered on March 8, 2005, 315 Posts, 2291 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 8, 2011 at 8:52 AM

Wow! Way better than a hummer floating

Good job on the narrative, almost like being there Ron..
A very worth post of this behavior - Great!!

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on July 8, 2011 at 11:08 AM

Sharp owl and slightly oof coyote works so well here, Ron. Interesting caption too. Might be tempting to crop a little off each side to put more emphasis on the action.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on July 8, 2011 at 12:43 PM

I lke the expression on the Coyote. Same smile I see on them right after they raid my neighbors chickens.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on July 8, 2011 at 1:51 PM

I like seeing behavior shots, the only thing better would be to witness something like this in person. The owl is sharp and that draws me into the image plus I like the varied colored of the vegetation as it adds to the overall comp, nice job in getting this.

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on July 8, 2011 at 2:53 PM

How exciting, indeed! I'm glad you posted this...looks like you did the best you could given the setting. I like the pastel grasses and the coyote almost looks like an illusion/dream. Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on July 8, 2011 at 4:41 PM

I love it!!! Busy setting, OOF coyote, and all! The focus is just where it needs to be...on the intense stare of the owl as he moves in. In fact, I think this would have worked very well either way...with either the owl, or the coyote, in focus, depending on what you wanted as the main subject. The "busy" setting is great too.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on July 8, 2011 at 4:44 PM

Amazing action Ron. What an incredible experience. Thanks for sharing.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on July 8, 2011 at 5:04 PM

An exceptional moment, well described- both verbally and photographically. This must have been wonderful to have witnessed Ron.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on July 8, 2011 at 7:08 PM

That's so cool. Looks like the coyote doesn't know what's coming his way. I like it a lot

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

Comment posted by David Sparks on July 8, 2011 at 10:15 PM

My adrenalin would have been really flowing just to have seen this. To actually capture this rare event photographically must have been even more thrilling. Such a neat experience and capture.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on July 9, 2011 at 12:07 AM

Very interesting, and unlike anything I've ever seen.

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

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on July 9, 2011 at 1:43 PM

Incredibly cool. I'd have loved to seen this

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Eric Diller on July 10, 2011 at 7:15 AM

Nice timing indeed! I am not a Canine expert but it almost looks like a Red Fox to me based on the Coyotes I have seen near me.
Either way, Nice score!

Registered on October 2, 2009, 69 Posts, 434 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on July 10, 2011 at 7:28 AM

Thanks Eric. I agree that it does have a "foxey" look in this image but based on the few other shots I got of it I'm quite sure it's a coyote - probably one of the juveniles I had photographed in the area earlier this spring.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments