New Years Day 2011 - Long-eared Owl commencing territorial activity

As is the tradition, i had a look to see which birds i could note on the first day of the new year.

I left it late, not leaving the house till @ 15:00, a jog over the fields left me just enough time to see one or two species (including a Bittern that exploded at my feet ! ) before making my way to a Leo roost.

As the light faded, a pair of Leos commencing their breeding cycle -


Dueting, male hooting while female called from a likey nest area.

There was some limited wing clapping & two pursuits after roosting thrushes.

So, a good start to the year - lets hope the Leos breeding season is more productive than it was in Co.Durham in 2010.


As i came away, the local 'shutters' posed infront of their vehicles headlamps for digi images, with a big dog Fox they'd bagged.


I will keep this web log for owl related topics

& have this new one for my local birding - this year i am looking at the whole City of Sunderland area, aswell as our well known Local Study area

http://wearewandering.blogspot.com/