For the last 3 months, I have been quietly observing and watching half a dozen short eared owls. After countless days spent in the fields, here are some of my favourite photographs of the owls and how the Canon R5II has made it an absolute breeze.

Short-eared owls are among the UK’s most captivating birds of prey. Their piercing yellow eyes, mottled brown plumage, and graceful flight patterns make them a sought-after subject for us nature and wildlife photographers.

It’s been nearly 5 months since my Canon R5II arrived from LCE Lincoln (huge shout out to Jamie and the team there, they always look after me and my clients with the latest equipment as well as incredible deals on used gear) and the new, advanced AF capabilities have made photographing these elusive owls an achievable goal. In this blog post, I’ll share tips, techniques, and insights to help you photograph short-eared owls in their natural habitat.

Why Photograph Short Eared Owls?

Short-eared owls are winter visitors to the UK, often spotted in open grasslands, moorlands, and coastal marshes. Here in my home county of Dorset, I see barn owls almost daily on my morning and evening commutes, but it took me a good 4 months to find a couple of regular spots where the SEO’s liked to hunt (for obvious reasons, I won’t be sharing locations as to protect the animals, not for selfish reasons).

Unlike many other owl species, they are diurnal, meaning they hunt during the day, especially around dawn and dusk, and from what I’ve found recently, they seem to prefer cloudy days. This behaviour offers us photographers the unique opportunity to capture them in natural light, showcasing their dynamic hunting skills and aerial acrobatics (which, I for one am OBSESSED with watching) and have tried to portray in this burst image below:

3 x Photos taken at 30FPS using Canon R5II with EF500mm MKII with 1.4x TC - 1/2000 sec at F5.6, ISO5000

I was watching this particular SEO hunt over the fields, land on a post (first image at the top) and then circle a patch. So, carefully positioning myself so that the bird could be backlit by the afternoon sun, I waited patiently for the owl to fly past and put on the air brakes… this happened in a matter of milliseconds as it went from flying normally to diving down for an afternoon snack!

Field Techniques:

1. Stay Low and Blend In

Wear neutral or camouflage clothing and position yourself low to the ground. This minimizes disturbance and brings you to eye level with the owl, adding an intimate perspective to your shots.

2. Use Natural Light

Position yourself with the sun behind you to illuminate the owl and avoid harsh shadows. The soft light during golden hours enhances feather detail and overall image quality.

3. Patience Pays Off

Short-eared owls can be unpredictable. Spend time observing their patterns and movements before attempting to photograph them. This patience often results in more rewarding shots.

Ethical Considerations

Maintain a respectful distance to avoid disturbing the owls
Refrain from baiting or altering their natural behaviour for a photograph
Follow local wildlife photography guidelines and respect protected areas

Canon R5II with RF100-500mm: 1/1600 sec at F7.1, ISO800

Camera Settings and Techniques

1. Autofocus Mastery

The Canon R5 II boasts an advanced autofocus system with INCREDIBLE animal eye detection and tracking. Activate this feature to lock onto the owl’s eyes, ensuring tack-sharp focus even during fast movements. Set your AF mode to Servo AF for continuous tracking and, if you’re used to two-back button focus, set one button for animal tracking, and another for spot focus for those instances when the owls go behind hedges/bushes.

2. Optimal Exposure Settings

Shutter Speed: Use a minimum of 1/1250s to freeze the owl’s flight, I found that pushing this to 1/1600 during action sequences gave me better hit rates.

Aperture: A wide aperture (f/5.6 or lower) isolates the subject and creates beautiful background bokeh. The RF100-500 is limited to f/7.1 so that’s what I set it too and leave it

ISO: In all honesty, just set this ti AUTO and forget it… the R5II doesn’t have the cleanest noise due to the high MP sensor, however, noise reduction software is so good these days, it’s never really an issue!

3. Burst Mode

Set the camera to high-speed continuous shooting to capture rapid action sequences. Short-eared owls’ mid-air turns and swoops can yield stunning frames when captured in bursts - make the most of 30FPS!

My New Obsession…

Photographing short-eared owls in the UK is honestly one of the most thrilling and rewarding wildlife experiences I’ve had with my camera, and I hope you enjoy this little collection of photographs from over the Christmas and New Year break. With the Canon R5 II’s cutting-edge technology and a thoughtful approach, you can create breathtaking images that capture the spirit of these magnificent birds. Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or a passionate amateur, the beauty of short-eared owls will leave you inspired to keep exploring and shooting!

Canon R5II and Wildlife Photography with Short Eared Owls