However the island does have it's treasures. Scattered around there are still plots of land yet to have a house plonked on them and amazingly these were the source of my favourite snaps from the holiday. I had heard about the burrowing owls on a previous visit and an email to Nancy Ritchie City of Marco Island Environmental Specialist gave me a steer to some nest sites. In fact as I was to find out the owls are doing well and even before I went I had found some other sites as well - all will be explained later!
In all I had 2 trips - one visit instead of a morning fishing session, and then a second on a day when Kay, Simon and Angela all came down to join me. On day 1 the light wasn't so good, but I found the owls, they were very confiding with a little care (it seemed some sites were more used to people than others) and I couldn't wait to visit in better light.
Trip 2 saw better light, but the dawn glow didn't last and I was soon reminded how strong sunlight can be, creating harsh contrast, Still I got more snaps of a very relaxed pair of owls.
In general pics of wildlife look better if the object is looking in your direction, but in contrast to appearances most of the time I was ignored and the owls scanned for other threats - large birds overhead provoked some concern, ............
and whilst people strolling past didn't seem to worry them there was more of a reaction if they were walking dogs - or a large noisy lorry went past.
My visits were still quite short and I didn't get much chance to snap behaviours other than scanning the neighbourhood. I had to giggle though when one of the pair started to do some housework.
At least at home I don't run the risk of being blinded if I get in the way!!
I said I found more nest sites before I visited - the power of Google maps. You see the nest sites are protected by the City Council, each resembling a crime scene marked out with orange tape - and you can see them on satellite view! I later found that not all the taped sites belonged to owls, but that's the next post.
1 comment:
Cracking shots as always Brian, looking forward to the next set already. Happy new year and good shooting
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