Because … even at a FAR distance, hugely cropped …
BURROWING OWL!
It’s the first one I’ve seen in Disappointment Valley in many years. Whooo (!) doesn’t love a burrowing owl!? 🙂
*** Update ***
My favorite bird photographer, Ron Dudley, posted about burrowing owls on his blog – Feathered Photography – this morning, requesting respect for these beloved owls. Maybe a coincidence, maybe an opportunity to share some love and education.
I was driving when I saw a bird zoom in front of the Jeep, and I thought it was a kestrel (also one of my favorite birds), but I looked through the window as I passed and was astounded to see the owl on the ground. I stopped and slowly backed up … and spotted it again at a fair distance from the road. It flew again and landed, and those are the shots posted above. I never got out of the Jeep to pursue further pix because I didn’t want to bother it – it WAS doing the bobbing behavior indicating stress – and spent no more than a couple of minutes watching it (I took four pix). Even though I knew the pix would be terrible quality, I was so excited, I tried anyway.
When I tried to select “burrowing owl” later on the bird ID app (Merlin) on my phone, it didn’t even give me the option! All books and websites I’ve looked at indicate that burrowing owls are uncommon and the population is declining. … Ron Dudley’s post gives some indication why that is. I’m very happy to have seen this little owl … and very much hope I didn’t cause it any harm.
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 
❤ ❤
Huge love!
That is wonderful! To see the wildlife and be able to get the picture is amazing!
All the hair stood up on the back of my neck, I was so excited to see that little owl! 🙂
Love it!!!! How kewl!!!
Super very hugely cool! 🙂
Good find !! Hunting for mice ??
I don’t know?? I’m sure now that I interrupted it in whatever it was doing. It had been a LONG time since I’d seen a burrowing owl in that area (in all of the valley!), and I certainly wasn’t expecting to see one!
Now that is absolutely cool, TJ! A burrowing owl to add to SCB’s wildlife inventory.
We certainly have lots of prairie dog burrows and rodents for it to feel right at home!
Love the little owl!
Just gorgeous!
OK, that’s the one thing I might rather see than a wild horse. What a magical moment.
I got the shivers, for sure! 🙂