Burrowing owls

[Grumpy Old Guy]

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]

1. Really good pictures but then I think owls are cool. 😎

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 won’t drown. My rain gauge had 11+” in 48 hours but I don’t know how much rain they had just west of me but it was quite a lot.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

6. Wow! That would be devastating for them.

We get our share of torrential rains out here too. However, I don't think our rainy season coincides with nesting season.

[ShazzieB]

2. How cool!

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]

7. Thanks!

That is a perfect description of them.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Wonderful owls, my dear Grumpy!

You do amazing work!

Thanks for sharing them with all of your lucky fans!

[Grumpy Old Guy]

8. Awwww thanks Dear Peggy!

[Solly Mack]

4. I love owls. Very nice!

[Grumpy Old Guy]

9. Thanks!

I love them too. It's been a good season for owl watching this year.

[Mousetoescamper]

5. Splendid photos of fascinating birds!

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]

10. Thanks!

This was about a four hour drive in 105° heat. It wasn't easy.

I'll be glad to cross post it.

[Rhiannon12866]

11. K&R for these amazing photos!

Thanks so much for sharing them with us!

[Grumpy Old Guy]

14. Thank you!

[Grumpy Old Guy]

21. Thank you!

[littlemissmartypants]

12. Fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing this, GOG! I love them! ❤️

[Grumpy Old Guy]

15. Thanks!

I think everyone loves thess little critters.

[littlemissmartypants]

17. YW! Sure seems so! ❤️

[StarryNite]

13. I love burrowing owls.

Great pictures of the amazing critters.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

16. Thanks so much!

[Diamond_Dog]

18. Stunning photos, Grumpy Old Guy!

Do they let you get very close? I wonder how they live in such an arid environment. …. Fascinating creatures.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

19. Actually, they are pretty chill.

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]

20. Beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing. n/t

[Grumpy Old Guy]

22. Thank you!

[CrispyQ]

23. They're great!

That last one is really interesting! It almost looks like a one-eyed owl.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

24. Thanks!

[HAB911]

25. Love these!

[Grumpy Old Guy]

26. Thank you!