Mid June Long-eared Owl Update

Who would have thought....
After an almost entire winter clear out it wasn't looking very promising for our local Long-eared friends this year...

BUT !

Its turning out to be our best Long-eared Owl season for a few years.

We are being watched too ! Lovely image of a curious adult checking out local photographer Brian Howes

Young Long-eared - out & about at a little more than a month old (Anthony Fitches)

Growing up fast - this one not much older than the previous bird, eye a more vivid colouration, feathers all coming through & developing its ear tufts (John Gardiner)

Branched juveniles still very downy, but primaries develop faster allowing them to fly quite well in spite of appearances.

A post hunting adult in superb condition (Hilary Chambers)

Stunning food-pass image by Michael Brady at a Co.Durham location.

Breeding 2017:
At time of writing 17/06 we have 28 breeding pairs confirmed as having branched or fledged young so far in VC66 - Old County Durham (basically Tyne to Tees). with 1 pair still incubating.

x3 young birds digi-scoped from range (SE)

young bird waits to be fed - the plumage advances by the day (Dawn Pack)

This is still a long way off our best year of 42 pairs confirmed - but there's still time.

In fact there's still PLENTY of time

I spoke to "young Jimmy" & prompted him to re-check a regular territory that we "skimmed over" in the Spring.... Lo & behold a nest with eggs 14/06 !
Not unprecedented by any means but late for this species - our local birds are generally synchronised layers, but this means they've been laying over a 12 week period !
This nest is of interest too, its used an old Wood Pigeons which is on top of an old squirrel drey.

this 1 watched in envy as its older sibling followed the adult out to hunt (SE)

the youngest of 4, regularly bullied from his perch by the eldest sibling (SE)

In Durham we are more likely to find birds in lowland scrub & woodland edge habitats as opposed to the traditional view of them being a bird of the conifer woods

A candidate for the County's fattest BiggLuggs ?! (Graham Stoker)

I'm finding about 1 in 3 territories has been successful, with a range of broods from 2's up to two healthy 5 broods out & away from the nest.

2 of 4 branched young at this site found & photographed by Peterlee based Anthony Fitches.

2 raggy un's in the favoured Elderberry tree - blossom a similar colour to the downy body colour on recently branched birds (SE)

Having said that a core study area holding 7 pairs currently has as yet NO success.... but there may be information yet to be gleaned from the Poker players keeping cards to their chests ;-)

An excellent overhead flight shot from Colin West - quick reflexes giving us a great opportunity to see wing proportions, under wing, body & tail markings

female going away during nest checking (SE)

So, its a a very mixed up year - as if someone has put our BiggLuggs population in a bag & shook them up tipping them out randomly !

We used to be able to set your watch by these birds - this season has certainly bucked all trends.

NB: If you would like to watch them, now is the time -
Daylight hunting Pairs are out early evenings with noisy begging young across the County.

Tony, as you can see, has been filling his boots watching hunting birds in perfect evening light.

During the County wide survey we had folk "find their own owls".
One participant was overjoyed to finally see a daylight hunting Leo after birdwatching for 25 years

You cant beat the thrill of finding your own - If you are unsure how or where to search, drop me a line & we will try to help.

superb portrait of well advanced young bird - this is a new location this year up on the moorland edge in West Durham at 250m/asl where there may well be more bird as yet undetected by us..? (Anna Bilska)

NB: After yesterdays nest discovery there's certainly potential to be able to watch young birds being attended to by parents right up till September..


This is an interesting one -
Lea O'Connor watched this hunting adult take an adult Rat, the bird having to put a bit of effort into subduing it - generally voles / mice are killed with the initially stall & drop.

Adult finally gets away with Rat (Lea O'Connor)

As well as the usual quartering, birds will spend periods post hunting.
Heres Graham Stokers digi-scoped images of an adult on its favoured hunting post

The use of digi-scoping allows concealed observers to watch birds from distance with no disturbance (Graham.S)

A family part of 5 enjoyed by keen owler John Gardiner who has been watching breeding Leo in the County for over a decade

1 of 3 juvs at another site (John.G)

 with a bonus on the way home...

Little bonus for John.G

A few people will know "Nature North East", WWT Warden Dinsley, David is a keen owler & now lives in the County. These 2 images are from a healthy brood in a central location.

A wise Young owl sat in an Oak - an early morning shot by D.Dinsley

In Dusk We Trust ! - 2 youngsters start to explore their surroundings in the twilight (D.Dinsley)

Particular thanks for all information & particularly to the growing band of wildlife photographers - the majority treating the subject matter with the upmost respect.

This iconic portrait enjoyed by many on social media from Mark Fullerton is north of the Tyne

Lots of superb images out there & i'll end this with a Link for Michael Brady's Spectacular action shots of some VC66 birds :- https://flic.kr/p/V5rwUN


Many thanks to everyone feeding in information - really is an inspiration & helps us appreciate the bigger picture.

NB:
Advice after watching breeding Leo for 20 years:-
If you are watching breeding Long-eareds & the adults are not returning with a food item at least every 15 minutes then I would advise that you MOVE away.
If you hear a canine barking alarm call & the young are not begging then the adults are most likely uncomfortable with your presence.
Remember All pairs react differently to our intrusion on their breeding cycle - if in doubt stay well back.

That's it for now - Good Owling folks !

Three from Five

Our first Long-eared Owl pulli of the year on todays ringing & nest inspection visits.

 Feisty ! Lunging, bill clacking & spreading developing wings - all part of their defensive strategy.

 nicely settled down ready for rings to go on

processed & ready to go back up the tree

 several Kes clutches of 6

 The Dunce hiding in the corner.

 Who ya lookin at ?

Clutch of 5 eggs & a good cache of mammal prey.

Tawny Owls doing well in the caviy

Wobbly Leo season

Another 5 BiggLuggs territories checked last night -
3 blanks & the 2 with contacts, were not telling me much.
After studying this species for 20 years I cant fathom out what accounts for so many consecutive poor or blank breeding seasons ?  (neighbouring Kestrel & Barn Owl all fine)
&
why the sudden exodus this winter of usually resident pairs....
Its clear some birds have not returned to traditional territories (some occupied since 1950's & presumably a fair while before)
This week generally sees the first eggs laid.
I know a few pairs are looking very likely to lay - but the years of confirming fledging for 40-50 pairs seem a distant memory.
#InDuskWeTrust

Leo - Witches broom site

Late afternoon
Went to have a look at the Long-eared Owl pair which I'm hoping may nest in a Witches Broom growth.

Directly underneath I found what must have been the previous occupant.

A rather mummified grey squirrel - this wasn't here last time, so it looks likely that the Long-eareds have removed it from the witches broom.....

Once selection has been made, females will roost at, near or even perch up on the nest prior to occupation.

I found her in the immediate area, but extremely well hidden...

a small trail of splash gave a clue as to her whereabouts

Can you see me?

Very difficult to find birds when they roost in Gorse scrub


Close by a pellet under one of the males song perches

This will be an interesting one to follow up on - never seen birds use a witches broom for nesting.
Fingers crossed.

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This is a large Hedgehog i've seen last 2 nights at our garden
It was looking worse for wear this morning - took it to get some attention - small puncture wound & blood on its back, looks like a dog has had a hold of it.

The boys are back in town.. & the girls

The wait & the worry are over...

Long-eared Owl pairs are finally back on territory.

A near perfect night saw keen members of the Bird Clubs Owl Study Group stride in action..

Males "singing" from 18:10 or so tonight & in wing clap display flights from 18:25

What an absolute relief that theyre back....

For decades they never left us....

Fingers crossed for a decent season.

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I chose a site hoping for roding Woodcock & saw my first of the year which made 2 passes, a bonus was a Snipe drumming briefly.
The female called almost constantly for 50mins - she was in a Birch which was festooned with Witches Brooms.
Ive read (Scott) that they have nested in these meristematic disorders of the tree, but have yet to see or find one, so fingers double crossed here.

A lowland Short-eared has been displaying this past week or so & mobbing human intuders so this may lead to something too hopefully....

On the other hand it may well call, spiral up hundreds of feet at dusk & pin out on the northern horizon as I watched one do on Monday....

Tawnies have been busy daylight calling, last week I heard birds from Kelloe, Bishop Auckland & close to home.

Little Owls on the other hand may have been consumed by Buzzards close to home... falling away every month it seems...