Ann Torrence [the Ann-alog]

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Short-eared Owl

December 29, 2009 · By Ann ·

short-eared owl Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge Utah winter

Short-eared owl

We went out to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge on Sunday with a mound of optics and warm clothes. We counted 20 species, not bad for dead-of-winter car birding, with almost no open water to speak of. Not a tundra swan to be found, where we have often seen thousands roosting on the ice at this time of year.

The skies were filled with raptors, mostly the rough-legged hawk, a winter visitor to northern Utah. Two bald eagles, uncounted northern harriers, and one fluffed-up short-eared owl. We saw and photographed the same individual on the way in to the refuge and on the return. Photographed with my 70-200 and D700, this image is cropped to about 40% of the original frame height.

Once again, I lamented the full-frame of the D700, should have brought out the D2X. Iconoclastic, I know, but I miss my de facto 300mm lens. And even that wasn’t long enough to work with birds. Getting into the game is an investment, but I would surely enjoy it. Even without being able to make the pictures I see out there, it’s great to have a world-class birding environment an hour away from the palace. I’m looking forward to heading back out there as soon as it warms up enough for the first migrating ducks.

Filed Under: Gear Bag, Singles, Way out west Tagged With: birds, BRMBR, wildlife, winter

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