Long-eared Owls, RSPB Saltholme

[SteveClifton]

Thanks to Toby for arranging access to see these today. At least 6 birds present giving good views.

[IanF]

Four present today. I saw three at the time but noticed a fourth on the photos - left edge of first photo.

[TobyAW]

Video clip of one of the LEO's

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocg-XUKDJsA

[Renton Charman]

Couple of shots taken in the murk today! The last image was processed with Phase One software in auto adjust mode for comparison. I'll fiddle for hours trying to improve poor photos just for fun but in the end if it wasn't right in the camera you cannot create a perfect image!

[Ray. Scott]

A few taken today, only one owl on show when I arrived, although two had been seen just prior.

[Ian Boustead]

Called in at Saltholme yesterday hoping to see and digiscope the Long-eared Owls. Given the murky atmosphere the bird on show was not close as I would have hoped and partially obscured by the Rosebay Willowherbs, but the still conditions enabled me to use 40x magnification on the scope. I used the delayed action shutter release function on the camera to overcome the ridiculously slow shutter speed of 1/5 second. I think these digiscoped images compare quite favourably with the DSLR images taken the same day!

Ian

[Renton Charman]

I think you're right Ian, they're very good. You must have a very solid setup to get images as good as that by digiscoping in the light we had yesterday.

[Ian Boustead]

Thanks Renton,

I use a Gitzo carbon fibre tripod with a Manfrotto 501 Video head.

Cheers,
Ian

[IanF]

You put my efforts to shame as well. Also taken yesterday.  I had to couple three teleconverters together to take these.

I think digiscoping is much better suited for the more distant birds.

[t.horne]

January 30th a light coloured one seen at a distance of about 20 feet.

[TobyAW]

Another little bit of video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4liKfgkD_xw

If you haven't seen them or know someone that hasn't and would like to please make the effort as they are magnificent birds. They will hopefully stay untill April but could also go any day now.

[IanF]

Two seen today, well separated - quite clear to see but both a little obscured by branches.

[IanF]

This is the second one in the same place this morning as yesterday. I could only see one this morning.

Taken with Canon 7D + Canon 400mm f5,6 + Canon 1.4x + two Kenko 1.5x converters. Tripod mounted and remote shutter release. Around 50% crop.

[IanF]

Three were present on the owl watch at lunchtime today. Two were giving good views in the open. I missed the actual moment the pellet was coughed up (3rd photo).

[IanF]

Two on view this morning. May have been others but I didn't look too hard.