ML614635928

Age and sex

Adult, Unknown sex - 2

Behaviors

Courtship, display, or copulation

Media notes

Saw two Short-eared Owls leap frogging each other approaching the main field containing the parking. When they reached the field, they started circling each other. Then simultaneously they would climb vertically flare their wings, stall, and touch talons. They would then drop and pick up speed and continue circling. They did this at least 5 times, but I was mesmerized and forgot to count. Once the timing was off and one was alone in the climb, but they recovered and did it again. I managed some photos of them backlight by the pre-dawn sky. They broke off and resumed hunting.

Observation details

Saw two Short-eared Owls leap frogging each other approaching the main field containing the parking. When they reached the field, they started circling each other. Then simultaneously they would climb vertically flare their wings, stall, and touch talons. They would then drop and pick up speed and continue circling. They did this at least 5 times, but I was mesmerized and forgot to count. Once the timing was off and one was alone in the climb, but they recovered and did it again. I managed some photos of them backlight by the pre-dawn sky. They broke off and resumed hunting.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Lens

EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM

ISO

6400

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/640 sec

Dimensions

3258 pixels x 2172 pixels

Original file size

6.67 MB