Burrowing Owl #3 - more sunlight

[Brian Sump]

This one was taken two days after the other two and obviously there was more natural light present.

The same subject, the male of the pair, came right into the camera and beautifully set his wings.

Nikon D850
Sigma 500mm f4
Handheld

ISO 640
1/3200
f4

Edited in C1P and PS.
~30% crop
Removed the dirt at bottom after crop

[John Mack]

Nice pose an light. Like the foot full as well.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Nice and sharp! Good wing position, nice low angle. There is a faint specular highlight above the owl that needs to go IMO, just to clean-up the image. Is that mud in the talon, served as nesting material?

[Brian Sump]

Nice and sharp! Good wing position, nice low angle. There is a faint specular highlight above the owl that needs to go IMO, just to clean-up the image. Is that mud in the talon, served as nesting material?

Daniel, thank you. I noticed that in the tif last night and forgot to remove in this file. Great eye!

It is actually a piece of dung They bring them from the pasture and lay them around the hole to attract insects for lunch.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Thanks for that info Brian...amazing behaviour!

[kevin Hice]

Brian great capture ,as Dan noted on the artifact. For me maybe tone down the exposure on the owl and the dung seems to catch your attention first very bright. Love the green background open wings a great shot. TFS

[dankearl]

All about the BG for me and you have a really nice one for these.
Excellent work.

[Colin Driscoll]

What in interesting behavioral shot well executed too.
There are a couple of specular highlights with one on the LHS in line with the wing tip.

[gail bisson]

This is my favorite of the series.
So nice and sharp and the dung in the talon tells a cool story.
Gail

[Brian Sump]

Thank you all for the feedback!

[Dorian Anderson]

These are a real challenge to get in flight, so this is a great result, super sharp and well-lit. The thing is in the foot is odd but adds interest, and I agree the specular highlight above could go. Fabulous detail in that underwing.

[David Roach]

Best so far in a great series and pretty much perfect. TFS

[arash_hazeghi]

sweet frame, Brian processing looks very good


TFS