young Asio otus in the nest

A short post with images from 3 widely spaced active Long-eared Owl nests taken on the same day last week in northern England.
We check these for progress with the goodwill & consent from landowners, prior to visits by licensed ringers.

Clutch of 5 eggs.

single egg and two small young, days old

two young about a week old

There is a slight variation in the timings here this year, but we have previously had branched young out by mid May in previous years.

Nest visits are done as carefully, quickly & discreetly as possible. I have never known any birds desert either while incubating or brooding.

We hope ringing & installation of motion activated cameras will go some way to discouraging thefts & interference, following on from disturbance of Little, Tawny & Long-eared Owl nests, where both eggs & young have been taken.