Almost 10 years ago, Short-Eared Owls were the first birds I intentionally set out to photograph. It was a windy, rainy day, and I never saw one of the storied winter owls of the Pacific Northwest. So I kept searching.

Eventually, I found them, but could never get close enough. Or I was lacking the photographic skills.

It’s taken almost a decade, but I think I’m starting to get the hang of these beautiful birds of prey, which fight and screech like cats and hunt when the sun is scarce.

The first image in the gallery below was cited in the international competition, Share the View, which drew 2,636 entries for 2022.

Clicking on an image will launch a full-sized viewer.