Short Eared Owl Wildlife Photographer

Short-Eared owl: Asio flammeus, or 'Shortie', is mostly seen out and about in the daytime and easily spotted in the wintertime when migrants join resident birds. Look out for it over the moors and saltmarshes. Short-eared owls mainly hunt during the daytime, flying low over tussocks grasslands, moors and saltmarshes to feed on field voles and small birds. Similar size as the Barn owl, but with longer wings. The short-eared owl breeds in Northern England and Scotland can be seen more widely in winter depending on storm wind directions. They tend to nest on the ground in very rough ground cover scrub like Gorse, Blackthorn & brambles in scraped-out hollows lined with grass and downy feathers. Filmed in Cornwall around October/November over suitable hunting grasslands on the Cornwall coastline. You will often see up to half a dozen owls all hunting together, quartering the area. Fights often happen mid-air if-then encroach on each other's patch. The owls get mobbed, hassled or attacked by other birds, including Crows, Jackdoors, Magpies, Ravens, Kestrels, Peregrines; you can see invasive tactics and wing clapping ward off predators. Equipment used: Super 35mm Z Cam E2-S6 6K cinema camera Red 300mm T2.8 prime lens Atomos Ninja V monitor