The Short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) stole my heart. What I find remarkable is that it has so many different appearances. Sometimes they look grumpy, sleepy and alsmost angry. And the next moment it changes into an alert, active, and very mobile creature. In winters it roosts in small groups in the south of Europe and nests on the ground more in the north. It is one of the few owls that can be active during the day. It is a small animal: 35-40 cm in length and a wingspan of just over a meter. Silently they roam the fields in search for rodents. Sometimes resting on a pole, a stump, or just on the ground where they prefer to sleep as well. This winter a flight of Short-eared owls gathered on a meadow in the Tagus estuary near Lisbon. I have been watching them several times a week for months now. Especially one, somewhat gloomy but not very shy, owl. I recognized it from a broken nail on the right talon. Enough reason for a photo-shoot (or two) I thought.
The name "Short-eared owl" points to the small ear-plumes that they can show, mainly when they are agressive or agitated. The real ears, though, are located next to the eyes and covered by feathers.
On this photo the real ear of the owl is visible.
The short ear plumes went up here because of a Marsh harrier passing by. The owl keeps an eye on the competition! Notice the broken nail on the right talon?
Most birds have a uropygial gland just above the tail root. It produces preen oil. That keeps the feathers waterproof and has an anti-bacterial effect. The birds apply it by rubbing their beak and head against the gland opening and then rubbing the accumulated oil on the feathers of the body and wings, and on the skin of the feet and legs. Something we all probably have seen them doing at least once or twice. The gland itself is covered by feathers and not often visible.
The uropygial gland.
Each feather is treated seperatly. It's not easy to reach the wing tip.
And even the tail feathers are carefully cleaned.
The talons are cleaned and rubbed with preen oil.
By the way... talons! Not many rodents will escape these effective killing machines.
Shake it! In the dense fog the Short-eared owl got very wet.
The eye sight is as important as the sense of hearing for hunting rodents. Here the owl heard a sound in the grass.
A portrait taken during the day. It fills the frame, but approaching this owl I noticed how small they are.
And a different close up during the night.
Short-eared owls like to be on the ground.
Of course it is a very "human" interpretation, but this owl looks grumpy to me.
And here it is just cute, I can't help it. I will miss "broken nail" when she, or he, migrates north somewhere soon.