HE鈥橲 coming right at you. This striking image of a pharaoh eagle-owl (Bubo ascalaphus desertorum) was captured at dawn in dunes of the United Arab Emirates. As well as being found across the deserts of North Africa and the Middle East, pairs have been seen nesting on the pyramids of Egypt.
The photographer, Xavier Eichaker, had to move sharply to avoid being attacked. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a male, and it was pretty aggressive,鈥� he says. 鈥淓ach time I was near the nesting area, it would come straight at me, and I managed to take this shot one morning just before ducking into my hide. I just had to be ready with my camera.鈥�
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The backdrop is a large sand dune facing the rising sun. Alongside the owl鈥檚 shadow is that of the only tree in the area 鈥� a favourite perch from which the owl would hunt.
Eichaker also captured the above image of an owlet apparently bemused by a live mouse. A parent had deposited the rodent next to the infant to train it how to track and kill prey. 鈥淭he bird doesn鈥檛 appear to know what the mouse is,鈥� says Eichaker.
This article appeared in print under the headline 鈥淒esert hunter鈥�
