p.1 #1 · Escape from claw of death to live another day - a June bug’s perspective
This set is from the height of the burrowing owl season in Southern California last September when I went to this site like every other day to photograph their hunting activities. It was addicting... . Burrowing owls catch their favorite prey, June bugs, by stretching their legs and by using their claw or claws to snatch the prey mid-air. This one of several “sorties” I was able to document and this one is, well, quite comical, I may add.
This juvenile took off from its perch and approached a June bug in flight at full speed. Although it clenched the claws alright (I could see some rock debris that became loose during the process) but it missed the target. Somehow by strike of luck, it managed to clench the prey at its elbow, no matter how clumsy it looked . Then by another strike of luck, it somehow managed to grab the prey using the right claw. However, a fraction of a second later, due to inexperience, I assumed, this youngster opened up the claw... Big oops! As soon as the June bug did feel the grip anymore, it flew away and escaped to live another day. The youngster flew back to the burrow empty-clawed... Oh, well, back to the drawing board.
Thank you for looking and please feel free to leave any feedback.
Joshua
p.1 #9 · Escape from claw of death to live another day - a June bug’s perspective
Your writing skills, along with photog skills made me read and view all the way to the end. Commendable, Joshua. Entertaining and beautiful. How big of crops? And auto ISO?
Rex
p.1 #10 · Escape from claw of death to live another day - a June bug’s perspective
KCollett wrote:
Cool sequence, Joshua.
Ken, thank you very much!
Fred Amico wrote:
I always enjoy seeing their antics, Joshua, and you captured it so well in this set.
Thank you very much, Fred! Yes, it was a blast and I am looking forward to their actions again this year.
Bobg657 wrote:
Joshua, you outdid yourself with these, really nice set. YGMV!
BOB
I appreciate your kind words, Bob and thank you for your vote!
surgemaster wrote:
Your writing skills, along with photog skills made me read and view all the way to the end. Commendable, Joshua. Entertaining and beautiful. How big of crops? And auto ISO?
Rex
Thank you very much for your kind compliment, Rex! I am flattered.... As you could tell, I had to crop the first image by quite a bit. I just went back and checked; the first image was cropped to almost 100%. I felt the need to do so to show that that youngster did manage to clench the bug between the elbow and the chest. The others in that sequence were cropped less and less and at the end, since it was flying towards my general location, it was barely cropped and mostly to straighten the frame. And yes on Auto ISO.
p.1 #16 · Escape from claw of death to live another day - a June bug’s perspective
I could see how you could get hooked on these guys and especially chasing those June bugs! Those are some amazing sequences you captured, the ones with the bug still in the frame are sweet!
. Burrowing owls catch their favorite prey, June bugs, by stretching their legs and by using their claw or claws to snatch the prey mid-air. This one of several “sorties” I was able to document and this one is, well, quite comical, I may add.
. Then by another strike of luck, it somehow managed to grab the prey using the right claw. However, a fraction of a second later, due to inexperience, I assumed, this youngster opened up the claw... Big oops! As soon as the June bug did feel the grip anymore, it flew away and escaped to live another day. The youngster flew back to the burrow empty-clawed... Oh, well, back to the drawing board.
