Longs at dusk

A couple of images of 2 Long-eareds shortly after emerging from roost at dusk. . Im reasonably happy with the first 2 pics - it was difficult enough to see the bird let alone catch it phone-scoping !

Cropped images taken from about 80metres away -iPhone 4GS hand held to 30x Nikon Fieldscope (85mm obj lens)

These 2 pics were taken on another visit, lighter & closer, but looking towards what bit light was remaining

At least 3 birds here, coming past hunting at close range. - although they seem equally happy to post hunt for spells. A Pair dueting tonight, before the male left to hunt.

Long overdue

Thought i'd have a go at resurrecting this blog


hopefully things can only improve by re-starting on a low note

this one looks like it simply fell of its perch

Luckily there were several more close by.

Heres a couple of random Little & Tawny shots from past few weeks :-

Short Harrier battle

The best asio winter for several years is drawing to a close, but seems to be ending with a fair flurry of activity.

Heres a series of long range pics from John of a Shorty showing a Hen Harrier who's boss!

On yer bike

and a nice cropped shot as the harried passed by, still at range :-

Images from J.Bridges from a private study site up on the escarpment.  JBee. Northeastwildlife.co.uk

Post Script:
The Gin Trap Ninja writes to tell me he recognises this individual & has snapped it several times..... just how many individuals and how far these Harriers have been travelling is unclear at best.... the ringtail i watched mid week was only a mile away but a very different looking creature.

One tactic these Harriers seem to employ on a regular basis, which i havnt seen or heard with Shorties is to "catch" a whole mouse / vole nest and feel through it whilst flying, disguarding all vegetative matter but keeping a firm hold on the meal inside.

Brown owls poem n photo

The Brown Owl sits in the Ivy bush
and she looketh wondrous wise
With a horny beak beneath her cowl
and a pair of large round eyes 

Pair of Tawnies in an 'Ivy-bush'.

(im still looking for #6 in the previous post, but im told its definately there !)

as the headmaster used to say.....

six of the best.

( well, six of the second best, 'cos they're Shorties )

Photo with kind permission of David Kray, Hurworth Burn Res, Co.Durham.

Owl watching hide

Heres the view at one of the 5 owl sites nr Durham

SWM

Single Wild Male

This one seems to be a batchelor boy.
He was close by in the same area over a year ago, proclaiming territory and completing advertisement flights.
He seems fairly content at present, but maybe this season he'll have more luck ?

Remember girls, No Likey, No Lighty.

Eviction update and daylight Barn Owl !

Having lost their spot in a roost tree to a Tawny, the "evicted" Long-eareds have only moved @ 25metres

They dont seem too put off and have been calling n displaying as usual at dusk.

A rare treat for us Up in Weardale, when we happened upon a day-time hunting Barn Owl !
by far the most difficult species to catch sight of across much of the County.

It landed in a tree and i managed a digi-binned record-ish shot!

The next field across held an old barn and obvious signs of who's occupying it  :-

 1,000's of pellets here - including several big fresh black ones
This site is moorland edge , at over 400 m / als, with pockets of snow in the shady dyke-backs - its pleasing to know Barn oels are still present after 2 previous bad snowy winters.

Long-eared Eviction

 No, this isnt the one about the pair that have been chased off by the local secateur wielding camera-men...

This is much more interesting.....

One of our local pairs of Long-eareds have been roosting in an Ivy covered tree.
The location is bypassed on a daily basis, with dog walkers & ramblers passing within yards of the birds - as usual, this is of no consequence & they have been faithful to this particular roost spot for at least 10 weeks.

The nature of the roost means the birds are VERY difficult to see, but at this stage of the season, the tell tale white splash can most probably be seen from outer space !

Heres an image from the back end of 2011 - the Long-eareds facial disc is all we can make out :-

 LONG_EARED OWL.

......and as you can see, he was still there just a week or so ago :-

LONG_EARED OWL.

Now, imagine my surprise, on looking through the 'scope today........ i had to have a double check :-

TAWNY OWL !

I thought i was going round the bend ! 
Cheeky, big brown......... thing !    Its chored the Long Fellas hiding spot & even sitting on his exact perch !

This situation would seem to be very clear cut, & theres a lot in ' the literature ' about Tawnies being dominant & ousting Long-eard's.....

My experiences in multiple locations of pairs of both species living in close proximity for decades, leads me no to share that opinion entirely...

I have my own theory on whats happened here & will be following it up over the coming weekend....


Heres a recent Tawny pic from the Old Cemy at home :-

Sleeper

Heres one we found today beside the old waggon-way at Bearpark Colliery

nice to see one without a mass of  twigs & branches covering its face

side view of same bird from further along track, showing relaxed dumpy profile - no glaring Orange eye-balls nor Red-hot pokers up the backside here thank you very much.

We managed these pics & left it in peace.

At the end of the day i arranged to meet up with AK to have a look at a Durham City Barn Owl
sadly no show here, although the day ended with a couple more owls, when the Fog-blogger was quick to spot a bit of owl-porn with a pair of treetop Littles on the job !