Burrowing Owl

[David Salem]

This is one of the last owls that was left in my area at the end. We called him Chip for the large chip he had out of his beak. Not sure what he did but he recovered to become a very proficient hunter in the field.
Here I caught him coming back at the moment of landing with a big Jerusalem Cricket in his foot. This was from 3 years ago. Sure hated to lose this great field right next to my house. At one point we had 22 owls in a 3 acre field, and most of them were pretty approachable . We had 4 good years shooting them but just like everything in life, it all comes to an end.

1DX---840mm---f6.3---ss1/3200th---ISO640---Handheld @8:15am--- 25% crop.

Thanks as always for looking and for your input. I appreciate it.

David

[David Salem]

Here is the 1200px frame

[Isaac Grant]

This is just fantastic. All the things we always talk about David. Beautiful light, great background, beautiful soft feather details, a great and dynamic pose and prey to boot. Not sue how you could make this any better. I actually prefer that it is not looking directly at you as that would seem like you were in some way a threat to it and its catch. Color palette is perfect as well. And the catchlight is right where you want in, dead in the middle! Only thing I would do is clone out that tiny floating black speck that is just above the right edge of your signature and in the background. Not sure if it is a dust spot or some gravel kicked up from the incoming bird. 1920 version is just killer on the 5k imac.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Wonderful image, techs spot on as always with your images. Dynamic pose, complimentary background, prey is a bonus ( what big crickets). I will be heading down south for a couple days to capture the Burrowing Owls in Florida. Thank you for sharing, David.

[David Salem]

Thanks so much guys for the nice comments, glad you like him.

Joseph, this is called a Jerusalem Cricket but it isn't really a cricket. This is what we used to call a "Potato Bug" when I was a kid but thats not the real name.

Thanks again

[David Salem]

Here is a better look at the Potato Bug!!

[Joseph Przybyla]

Here is a better look at the Potato Bug!!

That's quite a bug, a good snack I am sure. Thanks for sharing, David.

[Tim Foltz]

Dave,
Nice Burrowing Owl, techs are spot on, to bad about the bad humans ruining this area.

-Tim

[John Mack]

This looks really great posted big. I echo all the other comments here.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Wow that is a real peach the timing is excellent, colours, tones, detail, composition spot on. I am almost equally fascinated by he enormous prey presumably a Colorado beetle?

[David Salem]

Jonathan wrote:

"I am almost equally fascinated by he enormous prey presumably a Colorado beetle?"

Thanks Jonathan,

This is what is commonly known as a Jerusalem Cricket. As I mentioned, we used to call them Potato Bugs when I was young and I think they are still well known as that too.

Thanks

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Dave, great eye contact, and I like the swept back wings. Well timed for the landing showing the foot just off the ground. The light looks good, and the Owl is separated nicely from the BG.

The HI-res looks really cool.

[Bill Dix]

Great fun to discover a killer frame from 3 years ago. Thanks for sharing it. Love the wings, the prey, the palette.

[William Dickson]

Love all three images, especially the first, it looks real good on my monitor. Beautiful detail and pose. Colours throughout blend well and makes for a very fine photograph. Well done David.

Will