Short-eared owl

[Mrudul Godbole]

This was photographed in the Lesser Rann of Kutch. During the early morning safari we sighted it sitting peacefully on the ground in the bush. Gave us ample of time to photograph. It didn't make any movements at all just occasional glance here-there.

Earlier we had tried to photograph a short eared owl in another place where it was usually seen, but even with a slightest noise it used to fly off. We got to know from the gypsy driver, that lot of people were coming to that spot and it was disturbed to get close-ups and flight shots, so now with the slightest of noise it flies off.

So I was happy to sight this one sitting peacefully, would have liked it to be more in the open (tried to get its eyes in clear as much as possible), but then this is its natural habitat, so posting the image as it is.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 100-400mm L IS USM + 1.4x, f8, ISO 500, 1/125

Comments and critiques welcome..