troylim
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off
|
 Eastern Screech Owl | |
I love learning something new about the species that I photograph. The pair picked the natural palm this season with starlings nesting right below it. The cavity is so small that the adult had to squeeze through it to get inside the nest. Before witnessing this behavior, I actually thought they would use the momentum from the talons push from gripping on the outside of the nest but instead, the adults use the momentum from incoming landing to squeeze through the tiny hole with both talons in the air.
Want to have a more success with capturing images like these, please find out why: http://troylimphotography.com/screech-owl-success-secret-revealed/
All shots are done either HH or trigger with long shutter release cord.
5DSR, 100-400II, 1/160, f/16, ISO1600, HH.
I decided to photograph from the opposite end of where I usually stand the second day. I caught this adult as it was taking a slight banking before lifting up and delivering the prey. Standing on the special made ladder distance away with limited space for movement, I was so happy when I captured this in the frame. It was shot handheld. I like how it just barely lit up the side of the nest.
5DSR + 100-400II, 1/160, f/16, ISO1600, HH.
Cricket for Dinner
~Adult returned once again with cricket for the owlets. It did a head turn before proceeding to feed it to the baby.
5DSR + 100-400II, 1/160, f/16, ISO1600, HH.
First Sign of Life
~This evening, the oldest baby if all made his/her way all the way up, sticking its head out and got fed by both parents at the cavity. It was full of curiosity, paying attention to movements and sounds. I was distance away by the side of the nest and captured this moment.
5DSR, 100-400II, 1/50, f/18, ISO2000, HH
Diver
~Due to the size of the cavity, the mommy had to squeeze her way out of it. 3/4 of her body would be all stretched out so she would be tall and long. That\'s when she would give herself a downward push and dropping in altitude before her wings would open and lift herself up in the air. The shot was captured right after the downward push as she started to leave the nest. Those wings were just getting ready to stretch open. As the babies are older, this behavior would occur less frequently due to the need of her to feed the babies inside the nest. The babies now are taking turn being fed at the cavity.
5DSR, 100-400mm II, 1/160, f/16, ISO1600, HH.
Bullet
~Mommy shooting out of the cavity like a bullet. She went hunting once again.
5DSR, 100-400mm II, 1/160, f/16, ISO1600, HH.
Delivery
~Since this pair of owls are nesting in the urban neighborhood, majority of the prey for the owlets consist of what you can find around the area. The no.1 source of protein came from lizards/geckos. At this stage, the owlets would only come up to the cavity infrequently. The pair often return to their favorite perch with the prey, making its call, almost like letting the owlets the prey is ready, fly towards the cavity and delivering it to the owlets.
In this image, the babies were not at the cavity at the time of delivery, the adult hovered in the area for a split second and landed on the palm. It then went inside the cavity and fed the prey to the owlets.
5DSR, 100-400mm II, 1/160, f/16, ISO1600, HH.
Bathing
~As the owlets getting ready to leave the nest, I decided to stay up as long as I could to witness the fledging process. A few days ago, I learned that from another photographer friends who witnessed and photographed the the family of screech owls taking baths, my friend Mark decided to make a small pond for the birds nearby. Last night, the pair of Screech Owl continued to feed the babies and did not appear to be encouraging them to leave the nest. After hours have gone by, the feeding did not slow down. I started to browse on Facebook while patiently waiting for the brave one to take its first flight. That was when I suddenly saw an adult landing on the perch that was setup on the edge of the pond. I slowly got off my chair, backed away and got as low as I could. It was around 1.30am when the first adult owl came down and the male joined her shortly after for just a brief moment. They came down total of 5 times that evening. The only light source that I had for that evening was the flood light. I quickly dialed up my ISO, get the closest exposure I could and clicking away. Of the 5 times that they came down, I only was able to catch the female bathing. I decided to put together all the frames of the bathing sequence and make it a slideshow. Here is the link to the gif file:
Staying up all night for those moments made it all worth it. This pair of owls have taught me so much about the Eastern Screech Owl species and they are still my favorite owl in the state of Florida.
1Dx, 100-400II, 1/100, f/5, ISO32000, HH
Adios
~It is always full of mixed emotions when this moment happened after spending some time with them. I am sad to see these cute faces go but I am excited for them because they have made through the first 60 days. The real journey begins the moment they leave the nest as they are subjected to be prey to other birds or animals. I hope they will make it into adulthood.
The parents were working hard trying to encourage the other two to leave. They were trying very hard. At one point, another owlet had its butt and one wing out of the cavity but decided not to leave. The parents ended up just continue feeding them at the cavity. I am hoping the remaining two will be joining their siblings shortly.
1Dx, 100-400II, 1/160, f/18, ISO3200, HH.
Underwing View
~Previous post showed the dorsal view. In this post, it illustrates the incoming flight pose viewing from below, moment before the landing. The adult was delivering a lizard from the hunt.
5DSR, 100-400II, 1/160, f/16, ISO1600, HH
Incoming
~Adult coming back to the nest. I went wide hoping to capture a different flight pose. I have been wanting to get a shot of these wing positions for quite a while. This pair has raised 4 more owlets that have fledged successfully.
5DSR, 100-400mm II, 1/160, f/16, ISO1600, HH
Fledgling
~This shot illustrates the similar fledging process that I have witnessed in the past few seasons. The baby owlet would back itself out of the cavity then proceeded to climb up to the high point. It then waited for the adults\'s guidance, took off and landed on the oak tree behind the nest.
All 4 babies have fledged successfully as of 4/17/16
1Dx, 100-400mmII, 1/160, f/20, ISO3200, HH.
Fledgling #2
~Owlet #2 climbed up and joined one of the adults. It was full of curiosity. The adult took off into the oak tree. Shortly after, another baby peeked out of the cavity, I was lucky enough to capture both of them together with nice eye contact. Shortly after, the owlet #2 took off and flew towards the oak tree while another one was stretching out and looking back.
All 4 babies have fledged successfully as of 4/17/16
1Dx, 100-400mmII, 1/160, f/20, ISO3200, HH.
Fledgling #4
~Owlet #3 fledged some time in the early part of the morning while I was sleeping. Shortly after sunset, the adult was calling for the last baby, landed on top of the nest encouraging the as baby to come out of the cavity. When it finally did, the adult returned with a prey trying to feed the baby but it was already on the top of the nest looking towards the oak tree. Seconds after the adult left, the baby took off towards the oak tree.
|
