Anyone got a shovel? Pygmy owl gets stuck in the snow after diving to hunt its prey

This tiny Pygmy owl had a hoot as it dived into snow, leaving just its head and wings poking out.

As part of the smallest species in Europe the owl, which measured about 7in from tip to tail, used its lightning-speed reactions to catch a vole hidden in the deep bank in Oulo, Finland - emerging with the creature after just 15 seconds.

The sequence was captured by photographer Jari Peltomaki, 48, as part of a new book about the birds.

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What are you looking at? The Pygmy owl pokes its head out of the snow after hunting in Oulo, Finland

Tiny: The Pygmy owl measures just 7in from tip to tail and hunts small mammals which are hidden in the snow

Mr Peltomaki said: 'The Pygmy owl was looking down intensively for about 30 seconds - obviously it heard a vole under the snow - then it very quickly dived in to the deep soft snow, very close to me.

'First its head was under the snow when it was looking for vole and it was almost completely covered.

'The whole hunting sequence lasted 15 seconds and the owl looked very satisfied when it flew off with a vole.

'I was thrilled to witness and capture this scene on camera.'

Mr Peltomaki's photographs have depicted owls hunting, nesting and even apparently giving the photographer.