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We often research, plan and execute our forays into nature with specific intentions regarding photographing a particular species or group of wildlife. More often than not that wildlife is either absent from the target area, is camera shy, or only seen too far away to capture. In fairness, having a plan or target does make one ready and equipped for other things that Mother Nature may have in store. Today, however, was one of those rare ones where research, planning and execution resulted in a marvelous and wild photographic day.

The day was overcast and it was between storm systems. The very light misty drizzle did not bother camera gear or the wildlife. We checked an area in the ag fields in Yolo County where burrowing owls had been reported a while back.

Arriving on the scene the first sighting was a bright yellow and black warning sign that alerted motorists to the presence of burrowing owls on the ground. As we past the sign there were many burrows along the dry ground on the right side of the road. The looked like enlarged ground squirrel burrows. At the end where the road turns right, there was a cluster of these burrows so I got out of the car with my camera to peek inside them. Immediately I looked up and noticed that there had been an owl perched on a tree branch staring at me the whole time. It was the first of 5 different burrowing owls we’d see and photograph during our hour in the zone. Around the bend an owl flew out of the roadside ditch and into an ag field, then landed on the ground about 50 feet from the road and in the grass and dirt. This was our second owl. On the above-ground level, an American kestrel repeatedly bombed a much larger red-tailed hawk that was perched atop a telephone pole. After some bombing runs, the kestrel sat on a wire near the hawk and and stared at it for a while before taking off across the ag fields.

A third owl was close to the road, motionless with eyes fixed on the camera. After this owl the skies were very dark and it was sprinkling rain just a bit more than before. We turned around and headed back out. On the main road out Suellen spotted two owls together near a burrow amidst grass. While photographing the pair one took off and landed about and landed about 10 feet north where a fifth owl was peeking out from behind the grass.

You never know what Mother Nature has in store.

Bob Perry and Suellen Perry



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