Florida's Burrowing Owls are found throughout the Sunshine state, but their distribution with a preference for a specialized habitat makes observation challenging and unreliable.
The Burrowing Owl above (image 1) was photographed in Cape Coral in April 2015.
The best views I know of for observation of Burrowing Owl are in many rural areas of Cape Coral which is found between Tampa and Marco Island on Florida's Gulf Coast. With Marco Island another reliable location to observe the species, other areas prove much less productive.
The Burrowing Owl above (image 2) was photographed in Cape Coral in April 2015.
The Burrowing Owl above (image 3) was photographed in Cape Coral in April 2015.
The Burrowing Owl above (image 4) was photographed in Cape Coral in April 2015.
The Burrowing Owl above (image 5) was photographed in Cape Coral in April 2015.
If you're in Florida with an interest to photograph Burrowing Owls, you are strongly encouraged to make your effort in Cape Coral foremost with other local venues like Bunche Beach Preserve, Little Estero Lagoon, and Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary strongly recommended venues for additional highly rewarding wildlife observation.
The Burrowing Owl with owlet above (image 6) was photographed in Cape Coral in April 2015.
The Burrowing Owl above (image 7) was photographed in Cape Coral in April 2015.
The Burrowing Owl above (image 8) was photographed in Cape Coral in April 2015.
The Burrowing Owl above (image 9) was photographed in Cape Coral in April 2015.
For this article, while traveling to Festival Park for a long overdue visit where Burrowing Owls have been observed before, I made a detour through another well known Burrowing Owl "neighborhood" making the trip to Festival Park unnecessary with owls found much further south by miles.
The Burrowing Owl above (image 10) was photographed in Cape Coral in April 2015.
The Burrowing Owl above (image 11) was photographed in Cape Coral in April 2015.
The Burrowing Owl above (image 12) was photographed in Cape Coral in April 2015.
The Burrowing Owl above (image 13) was photographed in Cape Coral in April 2015.
Observation of the owls on 26 April were expected to include at least a sighting of owlets as the Burrowing Owls seen last year had juveniles nearly the size of the adults in late May.
The Burrowing Owl above (image 14) was photographed in Cape Coral in April 2015.
The Burrowing Owl above (image 15) was photographed in Cape Coral in April 2015.
The Burrowing Owl above (image 16) was photographed in Cape Coral in April 2015.
The Boat-tailed Grackle above (image 17) was photographed in Cape Coral in April 2015.
Sure enough, within 75 minutes of observation of the owls at a favorite burrow, I caught a glimpse of an owlet very well tended by its parents that I would guesstimate less than a week of age. There were likely more owlets in the burrow. I will report further on this family if possible.
The Boat-tailed Grackle above (image 18) was photographed in Cape Coral in April 2015.
The Boat-tailed Grackle above (image 19) was photographed in Cape Coral in April 2015.
The Burrowing Owl above (image 20) was photographed in Cape Coral in April 2015.
The Burrowing Owl above (image 21) was photographed in Cape Coral in April 2015.
One of the most memorable observations at this nest site was the time when what appeared a marauding group of Boat-tailed Grackle approached the burrow as they were foraging. A reaction on the part of one of the Burrowing Owl parents was to drop from its perch to defend the burrow.
The Burrowing Owl above (image 22) was photographed in Cape Coral in April 2015.
The Burrowing Owl above (image 23) was photographed in Cape Coral in April 2015.
The Loggerhead Shrike above (image 24) was photographed in Cape Coral in April 2015.
The Burrowing Owl above (image 25) was photographed in Cape Coral in April 2015.
The images presented in this first 2015 chapter regrettably lack most of the action seen. I was simply mesmerized.
The Burrowing Owl above (image 26) was photographed in Cape Coral in April 2015.
Superb documentation of these adorable raptors, Bob!
ReplyDeleteYou would have thoroughly enjoyed the owl hovering in the sky about fifteen feet above its burrow, Hemant. Unfortunately for too short a period of time to capture an image. It was an amazing sight.
DeleteMy favorite is #22........he's so at peace!
ReplyDeleteThanks Bob!
Adele
Burrowing Owls are especially animated, Adele. With observation of them you can expect to take a very large number of images in a short period of time.
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