Photography
Related: About this forumBurrowing owls
I spent some time in the desert chasing burrowing owls this month. Most of these images were captured at the Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge at the Salton Sea. Their eyes are hypnotic.

Deuxcents
(23,520 posts)We have burrowing owls over in the Cape n there are folks rescuing them because of the rain event we just went thru so they wont drown. My rain gauge had 11+ in 48 hours but I dont know how much rain they had just west of me but it was quite a lot.
Grumpy Old Guy
(4,016 posts)We get our share of torrential rains out here too. However, I don't think our rainy season coincides with nesting season.
ShazzieB
(21,352 posts)I ❤ owls. They're so good at looking both cute and fierce at the same time, a combination I find irresistible, and these are very nice shots.
Grumpy Old Guy
(4,016 posts)That is a perfect description of them.
CaliforniaPeggy
(154,786 posts)You do amazing work!
Thanks for sharing them with all of your lucky fans!
Grumpy Old Guy
(4,016 posts)
Solly Mack
(95,458 posts)Grumpy Old Guy
(4,016 posts)I love them too. It's been a good season for owl watching this year.
Mousetoescamper
(6,433 posts)I can appreciate the work, travel and planning involved in getting these.
Would you consider cross-posting this wonderful collection in the Birders forum?
Grumpy Old Guy
(4,016 posts)This was about a four hour drive in 105° heat. It wasn't easy.
I'll be glad to cross post it.
Rhiannon12866
(240,672 posts)Thanks so much for sharing them with us!
Grumpy Old Guy
(4,016 posts)Grumpy Old Guy
(4,016 posts)littlemissmartypants
(28,996 posts)Grumpy Old Guy
(4,016 posts)I think everyone loves thess little critters.
littlemissmartypants
(28,996 posts)
StarryNite
(11,717 posts)Great pictures of the amazing critters.
Grumpy Old Guy
(4,016 posts)Diamond_Dog
(38,016 posts)Do they let you get very close? I wonder how they live in such an arid environment. . Fascinating creatures.
Grumpy Old Guy
(4,016 posts)You can tell by the photos that they never took their eyes off us, but in many of these photos we were only about fifty yards away. We shot most of them from across a road or drainage ditch. They have a particular warning call that they make to alert each other and their offspring to get back in the burrow.
The Sonny Bono Wildlife Refuge is in Imperial County, California, along the southern edge of the Salton Sea. It's in a heavy agricultural area that is criss-crossed by open irrigation ditches. All of these birds were burrowing alongside those ditches.
iluvtennis
(21,326 posts)Grumpy Old Guy
(4,016 posts)CrispyQ
(40,111 posts)That last one is really interesting! It almost looks like a one-eyed owl.