A burrowing owl,
at his Salton Sea home in California.
He stayed out for his modeling shoot,
and didn’t fly off or run into his burrow.
He was definitely ready for his close-ups!
Burrowing owls (athene cunicularia hypugaea) are a California species of special concern and are listed as endangered in Canada and threatened in Mexico due to excessive development and habitat loss.
This is his Salton Sea home.
Cheers to you from Southern California’s sociable burrowing owl~
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How beautiful! Fantastic photos.
Awww, honored. Thank you very much დ
An accidental man-made sea that spawned an industry — and ecosystem.
The whole history of the sea is amazing isn’t it. Now it is a critical winter resting place on The Pacific Flyway, sheltering millions of migrating birds დ
Such a gorgeous creatures! Wonderful photographs Cindy.
Thanks my friend! I <3 people who <3 owls დ
Who could not love those awesome birds? They are fascinating!
<3 <3
These are stunning captures of an adorable little owl, Cindy! I just love the second shot! There are Eastern Burrowing Owls in southwest Florida where they are also protected, with numerous burrows in several locations, including on Marco Island where I saw them last winter. One burrow is across the street from the Publix grocery store, many in people’s yards! They are fascinating, thank you for sharing yours. Now I can’t wait to see ‘mine’ again soon! 🥰
How wonderful that you have seen them and live near them! They used to live extensively across Southern California, but now are limited to discrete areas where attempts are being made to protect them. They are the most adorable creatures and quite sociable if you approach them carefully დ
Great close-ups om a small but amazing owl.
Thank you Hans. They are enchanting little creatures დ
Burrowing owls are adorable. We have them on the west mesa.
They are adorable and not too skittish. Awesome they live near you დ
So gorgeous! We are at Cachuma Lake near Santa Barbara for the winter and spring and really hope to be able to travel to the Salton Sea area sometime while we’re here. Go away Rona! 😒
Be sure to visit Unit 1 of the Sonny Bono Wildlife Refuge. Use the platforms and walk the trails. There will likely be no one there. It is the perfect place to go during the pandemic. Don’t bother with the nature center. It is closed anyway due to covid. Google https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sonny_bono_salton_sea/
Thank you for the recommendation! We will definitely do that! 😊
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I remember when I was in primary school our teachers taught us poems about the owl. All that is gone away from my memory. We were told an owl is a very intelligent bird. I wish I could remember at least one poem. The owls I saw were brown, these are white. They seem comfortable in this place. 🙂
Owls are mysterious aren’t they. We often hear but don’t see them since they come out mostly at night. It was an honor to interact with this little. He was comfortable. Stay safe & well my friend დ
What a sweetheart and great photography to illustrate this fascinating creature.
Thank you Dor. Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas დ
Obviously, he trusted you.
Which is such an honor… დ დ
It is such a cute owl! Great captures!
Thanks my friend. He is cuteness personified დ
I think Mr. Owl was trying to make sure you got his good side!
And, he really wanted good lighting on his face….. დ
Oh wow! How special!
Yes! He was a wonderful Christmas present დ
Handsome fellow! Merry Christmas to you and yours, Cindy! You will be warmer than we are. Blessings on the little ones!
Merry Christmas to you and your family Peter. I will you health and happiness in the New Year my friend დ
Oh my goodness Cindy, what a magnificent bird! You’ve really captured his personality.
Thank you Sheree. I am so glad you see his personality. Be safe & well <3
Thanks and you too Cindy
❤️
Very cute 🦉❤️ I love that landscape as well! Thank you very much, Cindy 👍 ✨ ✨ ✨
Thank you more for your very thoughtful appreciation & cheers to you დ
Thank you Cindy!
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Wonderful captures, Cindy. They are the most adorable birds! I hope protections will improve their numbers.
Thank you Eliza. I hope the protections work too. They used to be prevalent in SoCal, but now it is a rarity to see them დ
What a gorgeous creature, and cooperative model! Thank you for sharing him with us.
Thank you more for appreciating him & cheers to you my friend დ
Wonderful, Cindy! Yes, this one was definitely ready for his close up! Have a safe weekend!
Thanks much Sheila. You stay safe too my friend. These are perilous days დ
How lovely
They are very special little guys დ
Great images.. So pretty 💯💯💯
Very happy you enjoyed these cuties & thank you დ
My pleasure 🌹❤️💐
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Beautiful shots, thanks for sharing.
Thank you more for your kind appreciation Rebecca & cheers დ
I love owls. They’re beautiful and they eat rodents. What great birds they are.
We have resident barn owls and great horned owls at The Holler. Our barn owl parents nest each spring in our owl box. They are lovely to live with დ
How fortunate. Great idea to set up the nest box. Must be very rewarding to watch the owlets.
It is a lot of fun. Different birds have different personalities, some will come right up to you.
They do look wise Cindy.
Leslie xoxo
It is those amazingly penetrating eyes and stare დ
What a beautiful opportunity for some good closeups!
He is clearly a star and my kind of model!! )
Oh I am jealous. I adore owls!
I do too and I <3 people who <3 owls დ
Hi Cindy, my sister just sent me a pick from the Ballarat Wildlife Sanctuary, a pair of of Tawny Frog Mouth Owls with their chick !! I hope the link works for you..
https://1drv.ms/u/s!Asumt4cZ9A65hNdQ_W8nVnHeTETo4A?e=3wNJ1Z
Oh my gosh!!! They are amazing! The faces are priceless. Thank you so much for sending me this. Wonderful დ დ დ
As soon as I saw the pic’… wow.. Cindy will love this…. 🦉🦉💙🌏
You were completely correct. Thanks again Ivor & Happy Holidays დ
💙🌏😊🎅
Beautiful photos of a beautiful creature 🙂 x
Thank you Polly. Very kind of you დ
Isn’t he a darling! What terrific photos, Cindy.
Season’s Greetings to you, Cindy; good wishes for your health and happiness. 🎄
Thank you Lynette. I send wishes for health and happiness to you too my friend, now and in the coming year დ
Beautiful! We had a screech owl who made a nest in a partially dying tree. We looked up and thought it was a fox because of the color and ears. Right, we know foxes don’t climb trees! Lo and behold she had a baby all fuzzy and white. We have great pictures of this as we came across the baby on the ground and the mother was in a tree with her talons prominent and glaring at us. What an experience!!!
How wonderful! We have resident barn owls and great horned owls. Sometimes the babies fly down and visit and I got swooped by a great horned owl. I was imitating their calls and he whisked by my head in the dark, ruffling my hair, but not making any contact. Pure magic დ
Such a sweet, beautiful little dude. You’ve got absolutely incredible photos of him. xx
Awww….I <3 my friends who <3 owls დ
Hard to imagine an owl on the ground, but he/she looks very at home and beautifully photographed 🙂
Thank you very much Vicki. Ground dwelling does make them more vulnerable, but also more approachable დ
Let’s hope our new administration protects all these beautiful little creatures. Thank you Cindy for playing a big part in protecting them with your beautiful wonderful pictures.
Amen to that. Hopefully all creatures great and small will matter again. Thank you Michele for your very kind thoughts. They are appreciated დ
Beautiful birds!
Grazie mille დ
🙂
What a dear owl! That is a beautiful series, Cindy!
Very pleased you enjoyed Lavinia & thank you my friend დ
Oh, lucky you! I love owls (we don’t see many around here).
They are mysterious and winsome creatures. Happy you love them დ
Love seeing the world and your friends through you lens.
Visa versa 2UX2 Rebecca & thank you my friend დ
Terrific captures! Love this little guy 💕
<3 my friends who <3 owls დ
What a cute little owl you captured for us, Cindy! I am glad that you also added the landscape so we know where the burrowing owl has its home.
Thank you for such a thoughtful comment Peter. I am happy you enjoyed the owl and are interested in his home. Stay safe and well my friend
What a beauty. They are interesting birds, we have owls in the trees behind us and sometimes when I walk the dogs I see one. Those eyes are something.
I love living with owls. We get to know each other and it is such a privilege to be near them. I am glad you get to experience this დ
How truly beautiful. Owls are amazing and he did pose for you, no doubt about it. <3
Animals are so much smarter than we give them credit for, but you already know this my friend. Stay safe and well დ
Don’t you just love it when wildlife poses for you! Beautiful shots as always Cindy.
Alison
Yes. I feel truly honored by their trust. დ
A blessed visitor, Cindy, wonderfully captured. ♥
Thank you my friend. He was indeed a blessed visitor! Stay safe & well დ
Owl be darned. Handsome lad. Best wishes.
Back at you x two John დ
Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
Pictures from Cindy Knoke if a friendly burrowing owl.
I am grateful for you Patricia, thank you my friend. Stay safe & well and Happy Holidays დ
Love the Owl and light Cindy!
Mother Nature set up these shots for me!! დ
Mesmerisingly beautiful.
Awww….So happy you enjoyed & thank you! დ
Stunning
Grazie mille დ
Your usual splendid work with lens and keyboard
Awww, Happy & Healthy Holidays to you and your family Derrick. Stay safe and well my friend დ
And you and yours, Cindy X
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He’s a fine looking chap. I had never heard of burrowing owl before. He has such long legs, for digging and running I suppose?
Yes. He spends most of this life on the ground so he needs good sprinting legs! Happy Hols Emma დ
And to you Cindy
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wünsche ein schönes Fest trotz alledem, Klaus
Das glücklichste und gesündeste Weihnachtsfest an dich, mein lieber Freund, und danke! დ