Short Eared Owl Photography in Aberdeen

[@BobBirchley]

Another great video of Short Eared Owls, such an enchanting bird.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much mate, I really do appreciate the support 👍🏻

[@stuartvh4562]

Wow! What a treat for you, Dan, and for us to enjoy it with you. Stunning.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much mate, I really do appreciate the support 👍🏻

[@joncothranphotography9375]

Simply wonderful, Dan! Thank for sharing your brilliant day with me!

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much mate, I really do appreciate the support 👍🏻

[@clairemacca6941]

Stunning once again!

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks Claire 😊

[@AdrianMoore-l2q]

Brilliant photos and great video

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much mate, I really do appreciate the support 👍🏻

[@LouisaLee63]

Fantastic photos! Hope the drive home wasn’t too bad!

[@danwillis_photography]

We survived 😂 Thanks very much 😊

[@StewartBull]

Another great video thanks again.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much mate, I really do appreciate the support 👍🏻

[@mikephelpswildlifephotography]

What an awesome video pal! What a location really liked these truly unique shots of the shorties you got! Keep up the great work pal 👍🏻

[@danwillis_photography]

Cheers Mike, thanks for all your support mate 👍🏻

[@richardchew1767]

Lovely video and photos Dan of my favourite owl species 🙂 Dodging the blizzards was certainly worth it although at one point I was half expecting you to show us photos of Snowy Owls 🤣 I have to say I was surprised that the Short-eared Owls were hunting in such poor weather but I suppose needs must and it gave you some brilliant photo opportunities. I see Short-eared Owls down here on the Essex marshes during the winter but in variable numbers. This winter they have been relatively scarce but I did have my fix in early January at Elmley NR in Kent where I saw at least 7 birds hunting 🙂

[@danwillis_photography]

Last year was definitely an eruption year, this year all my local SEO spots have had very little shows. Thanks very much Richard, I really do appreciate the support 👍🏻

[@paulbirtwhistle3193]

Another great video thanks

[@andrewmilne3031]

Excellent foties and video again Dan😀😀

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much mate, I really do appreciate the support 👍🏻

[@DaveSandell-w6r]

Absolutely brilliant with the short eared owls in the snow looks very cold thanks for sharing Dan 👍🏻👍🏻

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much mate, I really do appreciate the support 👍🏻

[@REMOVECOMPLEXITY]

Superb, as always, Dan! Well done to you too Mike.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Mark 👍🏻

[@LynnBrowning-b5n]

Great video again Dan. I have not been able to get to that site this year yet due to Knee replacement surgery. It's a great spot on the right day. Thanks again for all your interesting and inspiring videos and I'm re watching all during my recovery period. Can wait to get back out and about again with my camera. Keep up the great videos.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Lynn and wishing you a speedy recovery ❤️‍🩹

[@mariamullin4031]

Brilliant photos

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much, I really do appreciate the support 😊

[@sangliersepromene]

Beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much mate, I really do appreciate the support 👍🏻

[@BrianWob-s4g]

Total dedication to photography freezing cold yet you still bring amazing photos with you using all those buttons on the camera not sure if it’s a camera or an accordion

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much mate, I really do appreciate the support 👍🏻

[@Jwb-d6h]

I can highly recommend heated socks for cold days out in the field. One of my best xmas presents ever. Another great video Dan and you are fast becoming my Sunday night delight on KZbin.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much mate. Don't suppose you have a link to your socks do you?

[@johnlowe7097]

Great video Dan beautiful shots of the short eared owls, your perseverance in the freezing cold paid off 😊

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much mate, I really do appreciate the support 👍🏻

[@fraud1able]

Awesome video mate.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much mate, I really do appreciate the support 👍🏻

[@iglolosa5196]

Another brilliant video, Dan.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@johngunning2123]

These are some stunning shots of a gorgeous species. As a child, I spent many summer holidays at my grandparents' house in Aberdeen and often swam in the sea there. Believe me, even in the height of summer, the water is cold! Aberdeen weather recently made the news here in Australia when the temperature dipped to -8C. Lovely city.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks for sharing your memories John, I can imagine that the sea temperature never warms! A very different experience to your current climate! All the best mate 👍🏻

[@sidensvans67]

Lovely video Dan , wonderful short eared owls . Thank you for sharing .

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much mate, I really do appreciate the support 👍🏻

[@patricianadarajah6833]

Beautiful shots ! My nemesis bird, I can’t get a decent shot and we have very snowy days here in Canada too. My last attempt was on a snowy day with my Z8 and you are so right about the focus modes, I need to reassign my buttons. From a cold neighbour, get yourself some heated socks , you won’t regret it. I have heated mitts too.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much from across the pond. I like the sound of the heated socks and it is definitely something I will look into 😊

[@user-stupotts]

Definitely well worth the trip, well done.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much mate, I really do appreciate the support 👍🏻

[@ronscarbel5062]

We appreciate you "suffering" the vloggers curse, Dan. Beautiful birds, great photographs as always. Thank you, as always, for sharing.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks Ron, the bloggers curse has hit me so many times 😂😂 All the best mate

[@jeanlouis83]

😍😍😍

[@danwillis_photography]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@andywilson3381]

Lovely video Dan, try setting the focus modes to the video record button i have my favourite 4 set to that and it’s super quick to scroll through them, freeing the other buttons up!

[@danwillis_photography]

That's a cracking idea Andy and definitely something I will give a try. Cheers mate 👍🏻

[@leemanton3169]

Another great video, Dan 👍🏻

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much mate, I really do appreciate the support 👍🏻

[@michaelsaltsman7550]

these shots are just superb and its my pleasure sponsoring you again one of my favourite chills here on youtube

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much mate, the sponsorship was really appreciated mate as is your support 👍🏻

[@michaelsaltsman7550]

@@danwillis_photography im hoping to maybe sponsor a little later this year too

[@mikek601]

Another great video thanks Dan, looking forward to the next one 😊

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much mate, I really do appreciate the support 👍🏻

[@ianwilsonwildlifephotography]

Great stuff again Dan, just love SEO’s. Loved the flight shots of them in the snow. Would I assume correctly that for the ground shots in the snow you over exposed slightly? Hope you had a safe journey home and look forward to the next video. 👍Ian

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks Ian, appreciate it . Yes I think that the images are slightly overexposed. Safe journey although a bit hairy at times 😂

[@alanmacleay6213]

Been there myself. There is occasionally a kestrel that sits in the tree beside the photographers and then you get the SEO chasing the kestrel.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Alan, I really do appreciate the support. There was a kestrel knocking about but never came close enough. I would love to see them interacting with the SEO's 👍🏻

[@StephenBrooks-e9m]

Fantastic video and stills as always. Thank you for sharing such beauty Dan

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much mate, I really do appreciate the support 👍🏻

[@CrawPhotography]

Another great video Dan, absolutely stunning images, and I love the fact you planned some images out in your head and managed to get some, just shows the creative mindset that great photographers have. The shorties are definitely on my Bogey list at the moment. I visited a place in October and managed to see 2 of them for the first time... but I got there just before dark and was lucky that I was able to capture anything to be honest, I got 2 just about usable far away images. Unfortunately in 2025 I've been to 3 different locations where I know from research where they have been in the past, or even spotted this year, with no luck so far. Of course I'm not going to give up on them at all, but it could be that there is less of them about this year. This is only my 2nd year really of dedicating real time to the hobby and such, so there is always so much to learn and go find.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much mate, I really do appreciate the support. This year has been really low for SEO numbers with many of my favourite locations producing nothing this winter. Fingers crossed that next year produces something better. All the very best 👍🏻

[@CrawPhotography]

@@danwillis_photography Lets hope the future is full of lots more of them, and maybe even some other ones!

[@paulliversage4479]

Great video Dan....beats my attempt to get barn owls after the storm in Scotland.. my car got written off before i got there

[@danwillis_photography]

Oh dear that sounds horrendous, hope you are okay mate?

[@paulliversage4479]

@danwillis_photography yeah I'm OK thanks..Gillian is a bit sore but ould have been a lot worse

[@ScottRitchie-bw9ls]

What an adventure. I really loved the moody cello music too. I'm curious. You had 4 AF settings. How did the other photographers go? Keep it up!

[@danwillis_photography]

Cheers Scott, I'm sure that the other photographers had their own techniques. Ultimately it's about what brings you confidence I guess and switching between shots certainly gives me that. All the best 👍🏻

[@ruddyrutherford]

Fantastic. I live in Aberdeen and have prowled these exact locations to shoot the owls but had no success this year. Funnily enough the only time I haven't tried was during that snow fall period. Well done

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much mate, I really do appreciate the support. Best of luck for future trips there 👍🏻

[@michaelsaltsman7550]

You see Dan and Pops Im always the first here loll looking 4ward to this one just need to see the leo and see for myself

[@danwillis_photography]

Cheers mate 👍🏻

[@eltwilliams1116]

Dan dint know if you know. Or if this useful regards focus options. Ive just discovered that you can set single point focus with tracking. But disabled animal tracking and eye detection. So it doesnt jump from the target. The beauty of having single point but with tracking so you can compose your shot easier. Hope this makes sense

[@johnhjic2]

Hello Dan, once more some nice images, But for me the urban backgrounds did not work as well.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks John, each to their own I guess with regards to the backdrop. I appreciate it was never going to be everyone's cup of tea 👍🏻

[@jeffbarton6556]

Who is having a wee at 11.07. 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Jwb-d6h]

If you keep looking you'll see the guy has his hands behind his back :)

[@danwillis_photography]

I had not noticed that 😂

[@danwillis_photography]

Good observation 👍🏻

[@isotechimages.9130]

Oh l can think of nothing worse than ugly man made buildings in the background of this beautiful bird but thankfully you got plenty without.

[@danwillis_photography]

Each to their own, I personally would always go for the rural back drop but liked the juxtaposition of the urban background and appreciate that it is not to everyone's liking 👍🏻