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Thursday, 4 May 2017

Missing the shorties

One of the classic birds that I get each winter is the short-eared owl which I love to photograph but this winter they didn't come. They usually arrive late in the year and stay until spring. This year I spent a lot of time through the winter months looking for them but no such luck. These pictures were taken  last year when we had about ten birds locally.
 They are quite used to people walking their dogs and will fly quite close. They are usually active in the early afternoon and late into the evening.
 This one, after I had taken several shots passed over me just a few feet above my head.
I am posting these pictures as it is so quiet nature-wise and I have a lot of difficulty finding anything to photograph. The local peregrines are confusing me as to whether they are nesting or not. I rarely see them as a pair, mainly just the male so the female could be sitting but I can find no trace of the nest site. I shall keep looking.
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2 comments:

  1. Breathtaking17 May 2017 at 17:02

    I'm glad you decided to post these last year's shots of the Short-eared Owl. They are wonderful, but you must be concerned as to why they didn't show this year!!

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    Replies
    1. Mike Attwood18 May 2017 at 00:24

      I spent 4 months visiting the spot for the shorties and then found out they occasionally miss a year. Mike.

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Mike Attwood - Photographer

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About Me

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Evacuated during the second world war to a village in Yorkshire where I lived in the home of a good photographer for more than five years who taught me the basics and a great deal about nature. Well past retirement age I have been a wildlife photographer for more than 30 years. Red Kites have been my speciality for much of this period. I did spend several years snapping wheelchair athletes and organizing the British Road Race Championship. In the year 2000 I was awarded a distinction by the Royal Photographic Society for my portfolio on wheelchair athletes. Most of my pics are digital, using Sony cameras and Sigma lenses. I used to spend many weeks each year with friends in Wales which is close to the Elan Valleys where I got many of my raptor pics. I now get these pictures more closely to home, specially red kites and peregrines. I support my pension by selling my pics, cards, coasters, fridge magnets and key rings etc. at craft fairs, something I wish I had done much earlier in life. I give illustrated talks to clubs and societies on wildlife and other branches of photography that I have been involved in.