Sheppey's Short Eared Owl tonight

KentYeti · #1 (**permalink**) 27-03-2011, 09:50 PM

So typical that having listened to all advice and read various posts here, (including Naturnutz when he posted his lovely Short Eared Owl photos recently), and stayed put in my car all afternoon at Capel Fleet, the little so and so turned up very late!

Not that I ever got clear sunshine today. Mainly a hazy glow. But by the time the Short Eared had gotten himself over to Capel Fleet we were well into gloomy evening light.

But at least sitting in the car and taking the photos from inside meant he came quite close. Bit of a struggle to keep the camera focussed on the owl and I did lose a number of images with me banging elbows on the inside of the car etc!

Just hoping for the combination of a really clear blue skies afternoon and the owl turning up at more like the times he has done recently before he packs his bags and heads North.

Dream on Yeti, dream on............

Hedgehoggy · #2 (**permalink**) 27-03-2011, 10:31 PM

WOW! I would be soooo chuffed if those photos were mine, fading light or not! Well captured

Deb London · #3 (**permalink**) 28-03-2011, 06:27 AM

Lovely shots Yeti. Good luck for better conditions soon.

sunnydale · #4 (**permalink**) 28-03-2011, 08:19 AM

Not easy shots to get under those circumstances Bryan, so well done to you!
I think they're great!

Tracey

KentYeti · #5 (**permalink**) 28-03-2011, 08:43 AM

Thank you guys and girls.

A little secret. Since I started bird photography on 24th February this year, (just after I saw my first Short Eared Owl), I've been to Capel Fleet about 15 afternoons and evenings.

Seen the owl most times, and have been experimenting with how best to get close.

Took a long time to realise that the sight of a large Yeti wandering around in the open was not conducive to the owl coming close!

Then tried part hiding on a bridge over a dyke in the centre of it's hunting patch. Got a great heron photo, (on the Gallery), but the owl hunted behind me, with the light all wrong.

So, last night, after 15 attempts and about 60 hours of waiting I did what common sense and most people on here would have done. Parked the car with in the most likely place to be able to use the camera if it hunted it's latest patch of the field. And sat in the car and waited, and waited, and waited. From before 2 pm until nearly 6.30 pm, (I've seen the owl there as early as 1pm).

Waited and waited as, at best, a very hazy sun came and went. The heron came and went. The Marsh Harriers had stopped dancing and gone home. I waited until the dull of an evening where the sun had given up trying to break though the mist. Then and only then did the owl arrive. I think he had put his clock back and not forward! LOL!

But at least he hunted his latest patch in the field, the side right next to the road where I was parked.

I will keep at it. I need a westerly rain front to go though followed by late afternoon sunshine. Just about the best possible conditions for photography. Trouble is, if owly feels the warmth of a SW wind he's just as likely to decide to head North!

And when he's gone I've got to work out how to get close to a Marsh Harrier...........

(But I think Snake from WAB may well help me there

).

Bryan

KentYeti · #6 (**permalink**) 29-03-2011, 08:48 PM

Lovely afternoon and early evening yesterday, but it was a no show!

Tonight was back to dullish weather and it arrrived about 6.40 pm. Way too late for decent photos. I only ever saw one at a time tonight. But at one point it must have craftily slipped past me very quickly to move from one end of the field to the other. Unless there were two there tonight.

Fairly sure I saw the Barn Owl head off hunting about 6.15 pm from his nest box. In the opposite direction to where I was crouched on the back seat of my car, away from the window most of the time.

So. Four more hours on the back seat of my car this afternoon. Never managed that in one go in my youth. LOL!

Ladywell · #7 (**permalink**) 29-03-2011, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KentYeti

Lovely afternoon and early evening yesterday, but it was a no show!

Tonight was back to dullish weather and it arrrived about 6.40 pm. Way too late for decent photos. I only ever saw one at a time tonight. But at one point it must have craftily slipped past me very quickly to move from one end of the field to the other. Unless there were two there tonight.

Fairly sure I saw the Barn Owl head off hunting about 6.15 pm from his nest box. In the opposite direction to where I was crouched on the back seat of my car, away from the window most of the time.

So. Four more hours on the back seat of my car this afternoon. Never managed that in one go in my youth. LOL!

You are naughty - but glad you had some birding!!

Naturenutz · #8 (**permalink**) 29-03-2011, 09:02 PM

great shots ,i know it aint easy to get photos like that

Simon Davey · #9 (**permalink**) 29-03-2011, 09:37 PM

What a great thread, love reading about how you got those fantastic shots.

solus · #10 (**permalink**) 29-03-2011, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KentYeti

So. Four more hours on the back seat of my car this afternoon.

I'm beginning to worry about how cruel it may be to keep a "large Yeti" [his own description] folded up on the back seat of a car for such long periods of time? Does he emerge all hunch-backed and grumpy with his fur all creased??

OK, OK - I'm going!