Artificial nest - 2 young close to fledging

A series of images showing how young Long-eared's attempt to defend themselves while in the nest.

The eldest youngster quickly jumped up onto the rim of the nest tub & took up a defensive posture - ive noticed that on taking up this stance the birds initially close their eyes for a short spell - as if to confuse any would be predators.

who've we got here then......

 A closer view

After a few moments they settled down

Side on view - at this point, one of the adults flew into view - the youngster seemed to forget about his peace being interupted, a good time to head off & leave them to it.

Female sitting on rim of nest.

Safe & sounds

An evening visit to check up on a pair of A.otus in a coastal area.

These birds have been interfered with in previous years, a clutch lost & chicks taken from the nest, as well as the nest tree being vandalised.

With school half-term looming large next week  (the week when some local stuff usually goes missing or gets trashed) , it was something of a relief to see where the pair had chosen this year.

nest in centre of image, a quarter of the way down - i wouldnt fancy climbing that one !

Swaying steadily back & forth towards the top of a spindly & very poorly formed (the one with the crazy bend to the right) Scots Pine.
The females tail just visible over the brim - no-one would get to this without a set of climbing irons.

Unusually the male was singing close by when i arrived, & he continued steadily for 10 mins.
A noisy & very busy family of Crows made a right racket over the wood, soaring & chasing for a good while - i wonder if this was keeping the male bird under cover rather than the dismall, cold, wet windy weather.....?

The evening was so dull & damp that i was home well before 10pm. March & April were far more pleasant !