Wildlife, landscape and weather photography
A crazy week at work and home so this afternoon was the first time I have been out since Monday. I didn’t find a wide variety but what I did find was quite cool.
This gent and another were kind enough to pose along a dirt road for me. Here he prepares to fly back to his burrow as a truck approaches. The two would come and go regularly affording me bunches of pics. Still struggling to get a good flight shot of these little ones though.
A Burrowing Owl and Prairie Dog keep watch on a pair of Swainson’s Hawks that were casing their neighborhood.
I was taking pictures of these two today when all of the Prairie Dogs started ‘barking’ incessantly. A look up revealed why as the two hawks circled repeatedly, likely looking for a meal. The Prairie Dogs all soon disappeared into their burrows while the owl didn’t seem particularly worried.
Taken north of Denver International Airport.
Can a Burrowing Owl look mean? I didn’t think it was possible but apparently they can. 😉
While it was looking at me, it was a convoy of about six semi-trucks passing by on the dirt road that really got its attention. This little guy actually looked pretty mean although at 8″ tall, I don’t think he would do much damage. 😉
This Burrowing Owl was quite focused on the guy with the camera yesterday. These little owls are a hoot to watch – pun intended – and those bright yellow eyes are incredible. 😉
It appears the females have retreated to the burrows, presumably to sit on eggs, as I mostly only found singles this weekend.
Taken north of Denver International Airport, Colorado, USA.
A male Burrowing Owl seemed to be kissing his mate a couple weeks ago. They actually did this to each other – soon after, um, enjoying some “recreation” with each other. 😉
This past weekend I noticed a lot of single owls hanging out which most likely means the females were in the burrows with eggs. They have a 28 day gestation period and it should then only be a couple weeks after that before the little ones come out and show themselves. I am really looking forward to it!
Scroll down to view the complete gallery of Burrowing Owl images from the day I took this one.
These little guys are tons of fun to take pictures of and their many poses can be comical. Catching images of them in flight is very difficult though as they tend to take off without any warning, fly low and fast and turn erratically.
On Saturday I was watching a pair of these when suddenly one took flight heading right toward me. I snapped off a couple of quick shots before it was all over. As I was shooting into the early morning sun the owl was heavily backlit but some post processing yielded what I think is a pretty cool image. Probably one of my favorite pics from this past weekend.
Taken in rural Adams County, Colorado, USA.
Sheer luck that I captured this image. I was taking pictures of this little one when it suddenly took off (they never give a warning). I was furiously trying to keep up and the camera was struggling to focus on the fast moving, small owl.
I managed this one, good shot and am pretty darned pleased with it. I wasn’t zoomed in as far as I would like so I had to crop it quite a bit and it was strongly backlit but all in all, a fun image.
Taken in Adams County, Colorado.
My photo time this week was greatly inhibited by my work schedule. I did however stop and check out a pair of Burrowing Owls on my way home yesterday. The pair are doing quite well and keeping close watch on strangers that approach. The eyes on these little ones are just awesome!
Taken near Denver International Airport, Colorado, USA.
Why are they troublemakers? See my post from earlier today. 😉
This very cute couple was hanging out near Denver International Airport this morning. Yes, there are two – look beneath the rear end of the standing one. The one in the burrow was definitely more wary and only showed itself fully once. The other was much more tolerant.
These little owls have got to be the most entertaining birds I have ever seen, especially their young ones which will arrive in late May / early June. I am really excited to see them back for the season and you can expect to see many more pics of them.
Scroll down to view the complete gallery from today.
Burrowing Owls called the PoPo on me. Nah, not really but the two made for a very interesting morning.
I stopped to check out one of the reported burrowing owl spots just northeast of Denver International Airport. Found the pair and was having a good time taking pictures of them from my truck. I noticed an SUV with the City of Denver logo on the doors drive by a few times checking me out and figured he didn’t like me being where I was at. Note however that I was NOT in any of the restricted stopping areas that are out there – I was well outside them.
After 15 minutes or so clouds move in so I decide to move on and head back west. Sure enough, here comes a Denver Police Department SUV that promptly flips a u-turn behind me and pulls me over. Very nice guy. He explains that airport security was getting nervous because I was taking pics near airport facilities. I tell him I was checking out owls and even show him my captures from the morning. He then asks for my ID and goes back to his car to check it out.
Next thing I know two more cop cars show up (they were likely called in advance before they knew I wasn’t a terrorist and instead just a dumb photographer). They all walk up and we begin chit-chatting, showed them my pictures and one even pointed out where he had seen some eagles recently. They reiterate that the fact I was close to the airport got their attention but they also admit that I was in a perfectly legal spot parked alongside a public road so did nothing wrong.
It was a pleasant encounter for sure although I have to say this is the first time my photographic activity has caused such a stir from law enforcement. LOL! Anyway, I thought you might enjoy the story and picture.
