Mix of pics LEO, LO, BO

Image from Plawsworth at dusk from DK; Two of the young Long-eareds we ringed earlier in the year, getting ready for a night out. Ring visible on this stretching bird - a right old daddy long-legs hes turned out to be !

One of this years young Barn Owls outside his roost, checking for the all clear before setting out at dusk.

adult Little Owl on a limestone cliff.

Jar on a Log

Took these images at the beginning of the month :-

Re-edited with free software from 'Picnic'

Jar nest with 2

 Took this image a week or so later.... after the downpours......

Jar nest with 2 floating....

 Watched these marvelous creatures at 3 NE locations during 2011, although the year ended, as we can see on a rather damp note.....

Looking forward to spending more time in their company in 2012.

Dayjar

We called in passing at a forest location hoping to catch up with Woodlark - a very rare species in the north east of England, it was a half hearted attempt, we were travelling home & it was looking like a stop too many, however we did connect, but sadly only got a few quick glimpses of a single bird over very rough terrain.....

We packed in somewhat frustrated & decided to find a place to eat before driving back.  

Lady luck was certainly on our side when we discovered a Nightjar (or should it be dayjar ?) literally yards away from the edge of our picnic rug !!

At first we thought it was merely a log, but it flitted up & perched superbly in open view.

 

Im pretty sure it must have been drawn in due to a certain person waving the white hand wipes about to get rid of the flies !!!

A very nice surprise indeed.

a couple of owl pics

adult Little Owl keeping a watch over his young as they explore away from the nest area


a sad end for one local Tawny Owl

Sadly a dead Tawny on the A690 - found by Jonnystretch

On a far happier note :-

The eldest of a brood of 3 young Long-eareds

A short clip showing the 3 young reacting to a Wood Pigeon clattering past close by:-

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Another short clip showing the 3 youngsters as the light fades

 

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This clutch were delayed by 4 weeks c/p other local breeding pairs.
Theyve been out of the nest @ 5 weeks, and fly strongly, although landing's are often more like crashes ! They tend to keep to the open canopy of decidious species, Oak, Birch & in this case Ash which allows easier

still dependant upon their parents at this stage - although the this bird made a few clumbsy attempts at catching small items as the light faded.
One of his siblings flew within 15' of me after the light had gone with all manner of head bobbing, twisting & posturing, to check out the rustling from a hedgehog in the undergrowth.

Quite pleased with this iPhone scoped image :-

 

adult resting in the afternoon sunshine - by late August through to October we tend not to see much of them.