[Leica] IMG: Long-eared Owl

[telyt at earthlink.net (Doug Herr)]

Today I visited Mercey Hot Springs near Firebaugh California  
(merceyhotsprings.com). located in the hills west of I-5 in the  
central valley.  For those who have not travelled this stretch of  
freeway, it's considered one of the most boring freeways in  
California; winter at least has some green in the grasslands, but in  
summer the hills are light brown with dead grass and the sky,  
influenced by automotive pollution and grass fires, is nearly the  
same color.

Mercey Hot Springs is an oasis with a year-round water supply and a  
small grove of tamarix trees, the only substantial plant growth for  
many miles.  During the winter months these tamarix trees are host to  
numerous Long-eared Owls who hunt for Kangaroo Rats in the  
surrounding desert by night and roost communally in the tamarix trees  
by day:

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/strigidae/leow01.jpg
http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/strigidae/leow02.jpg

Technical stuff: (both photos) R8/DMR, tripod

leow01: 560mm f/6.8 Telyt at f/6.8
leow02: 280mm f/4 APO at about f/8 for DOF.

I also expect to have some film photos of these birds in about a  
week.  All comments welcome

Doug Herr
Birdman of Sacramento
http://www.wildlightphoto.com