A strange day for sure. My wife and I had to attend a funeral, and I knew that not far away was a very popular spot for photographing Short Eared owls and Barn owls.
So we decided to spend a few hours there to hopefully catch a glimpse of these wonderful birds. It started off slow, with no activity for at least 2 hours, but then out of the sunlight, a Barn owl swooped in over the trees and proceeded to fly up and down the field, shortly joined by at least two Short Eared owls.
They stayed at a distance for the most part, but we did get a few close passes which allowed us to get some really memorable images. The light at the end of the afternoon was incredible and we left feeling decidedly happier than when we had arrived.
Photographing Short-Eared and Barn Owls with the Nikon Z8 and 180-600mm Lens
Short-eared owls (Asio flammeus) and barn owls (Tyto alba) are among the most mesmerizing subjects for wildlife photographers, with their silent flight and striking features. Inspired by my own YouTube video, which documents my efforts to photograph these majestic birds, I set out to capture their essence using the Nikon Z8 and NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens. In this blog, I’ll share insights on finding and photographing short-eared and barn owls in open landscapes, leveraging the capabilities of this powerful gear, and applying techniques from my video to create stunning images.
The Magic of Short-Eared and Barn Owls
Short-eared and barn owls are iconic species, each with unique behaviors that make them a joy to photograph. Short-eared owls, often active during dawn and dusk, hunt over open grasslands and marshes, their buoyant, moth-like flight a spectacle against the fading light. Barn owls, with their ghostly white plumage and heart-shaped faces, glide silently over fields, hunting voles under the cover of darkness. These owls thrive in open habitats like meadows, marshes, and coastal plains, where their hunting grounds offer photographers ample opportunities.
My video captures the allure of these owls, showcasing their grace and the challenge of spotting them in the wild. Short-eared owls are more visible in winter, when migrants join resident populations, while barn owls can be spotted year-round, especially at twilight. The thrill of photographing these elusive birds lies in their unpredictable movements and the need for patience, as I learned while filming in expansive, windswept landscapes.
Preparing to Photograph Owls
Capturing owls on camera requires meticulous preparation, as I detailed in my video. Here’s how to set up for success:
1. Understand Owl Behavior and Habitat
Short-eared owls prefer open areas like marshes, grasslands, or coastal dunes, hunting in low, quartering flights. They’re most active at dawn and dusk, making timing critical. Barn owls favor field edges and rough pastures, hunting from perches or in slow, silent glides. My video emphasizes researching their habits—short-eared owls often roost communally in winter, while barn owls may use barns or tree hollows as day roosts. Scout locations with open terrain and low vegetation, ideal for spotting their distinctive flight patterns.
2. Scout for Signs
Owls leave subtle clues, and my video highlights the importance of tracking them. Look for:
- Pellets: Small, compact bundles of bones and fur regurgitated by owls, often found under perches or roosts.
- Whitewash: White droppings splattered on fences or rocks, a telltale sign of barn owl activity.
- Flight Patterns: Short-eared owls’ low, wavering flight over open ground is easier to spot than the barn owl’s stealthy glide.
3. Gear Up with the Nikon Z8 and 180-600mm Lens
In my video, I used the Nikon Z8 paired with the NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens, a perfect combination for owl photography. The Z8’s 45.7-megapixel stacked sensor and animal-detection autofocus excel at capturing fine details, like the intricate feather patterns of a barn owl’s face. The 180-600mm lens’s versatile zoom range and 5.5 stops of vibration reduction (VR) allow for sharp handheld shots at long distances, crucial for keeping a respectful distance from these sensitive birds. A monopod or beanbag stabilizes the setup, and camouflage clothing helps you blend into the environment. Spare batteries and high-capacity memory cards are essential for extended twilight shoots.
Techniques for Photographing Short-Eared and Barn Owls
Photographing owls demands stealth, timing, and technical precision, as I demonstrated in my video. Here are the key techniques I used with the Nikon Z8 and 180-600mm lens:
1. Master Stealth and Positioning
Owls have acute hearing and vision, so stealth is critical. Move slowly, avoid sudden movements, and stay low to the ground, using natural cover like bushes or fences. My video shows me positioning myself downwind near a field edge to avoid detection by a barn owl. For short-eared owls, I set up near open ground, waiting patiently for their hunting flights, a tactic that paid off with dynamic shots.
2. Respect Their Space
Owls are sensitive to disturbance, especially during breeding or roosting. My video emphasizes maintaining a distance of at least 50 meters, using the 180-600mm lens to capture detailed images without intruding. I avoided lingering near roosts and never used playback calls, which can stress the birds. This ethical approach, ensures their welfare and preserves their natural behavior.
3. Optimize Camera Settings
The open landscapes where owls hunt often have low light, requiring careful settings, as my video demonstrates:
- Fast Shutter Speed: Use 1/1000s or faster to freeze the owls’ rapid movements, especially short-eared owls in flight.
- Wide Aperture: The 180-600mm’s aperture (f/5.6 at 180mm to f/6.3 at 600mm) blurs busy backgrounds, isolating the owl.
- High ISO: Twilight shooting often requires ISO 3200–6400. The Z8’s excellent noise performance kept images clean, as shown in my video.
- Continuous Autofocus (AF-C): The Z8’s animal detection autofocus locked onto owl eyes, even against cluttered backgrounds.
- Burst Mode: The Z8’s 20 fps burst rate captured fleeting moments, like a barn owl diving for prey, a technique I relied on in the video.
Shooting in RAW preserves dynamic range for post-processing, especially in contrasty twilight light.
4. Compose for Impact
My video showcases varied compositions, from tight portraits of a barn owl’s heart-shaped face to environmental shots of a short-eared owl against a sunset sky. I framed a barn owl at 600mm to highlight its piercing eyes, then zoomed out to 180mm for a short-eared owl soaring over a field, capturing its habitat. Use natural elements like grasses or fences to add depth, and aim for eye-level shots to create an intimate connection, as I did in my video’s standout images.
Challenges and Workarounds
Photographing owls is challenging, as my video illustrates. Their crepuscular habits limit shooting to low-light conditions, pushing the Z8’s ISO capabilities. The 180-600mm lens’s f/6.3 aperture at 600mm required higher ISOs, but shooting in RAW mitigated noise in post-processing. Vegetation like tall grasses occasionally confused the autofocus, requiring manual tweaks, a hurdle I faced while filming. The lens’s weight (around 2 kg) caused fatigue during long handheld sessions, so I used a monopod, as suggested in my video.
Weather can also be an issue—windy conditions make owls harder to spot, but overcast skies provide soft light. Finally, owls’ elusiveness means patience is key; my video shows multiple periods of no activity, before capturing my best shots, a reminder to persist.
Conclusion
Photographing short-eared and barn owls is a thrilling blend of patience, skill, and respect for nature. From the buoyant flight of short-eared owls to the ghostly glide of barn owls, these species offer a glimpse into the wild, and open landscapes provide the perfect stage. Whether you’re chasing the perfect flight shot or a poignant portrait, this pursuit rewards those who prepare, persist, and prioritize ethics.
Pack your Nikon Z8 and 180-600mm lens, study owl behavior, and venture into the fields with an open heart. The owls are waiting—ready to test your skills and leave you with images that tell their timeless story, just as I aimed to do in my video.