Short Eared Owl are often seen feeding during daytime hours in areas of open grassland for the hunting of small mammels and birds. It enjoys perching on fenceposts in order to obtain the best vantage points and quarters the ground at low level. However, when displaying they can rise to great heights.
Its plumage is mainly buffish brown and is heavily marked with dark spots and streaks. When seen head on, it has a round facial disc with bright yellow eyes and short ear tufts. Its flight is leisurly and slow on rounded tipped wings with pale undersides.
Breeding mainly in Northern Britain, it nests at ground level amongst clumps of moorland grass. During the wintertime its range can extend to much of Southern Britain where it may often be seen on costal and downland grassland.
This particular bird was photographed recently in late evening sunshine with a 500mm / f4 lens, set at 1/1000 sec at f5.6 giving a very shallow depth of field thus creating a soft and diffused background.
