Arse end Asio's

Heres a good comparison with 2 pics of our two Asio's saying Adios

Short (JBridges)

and

Long (JScott)

Daylight hunting Long-eared

Our County Long-eared population is well known, and in several parts well studied for decades.

During the breeding season we routinely see them out & about, active in good light, even so far as hunting in the midday sunshine, following a wet night.

Whilst in awe of these marvellous birds, familiarity does creep in & perhaps we are somewhat lazy knowing we have a full quarter of a year to see them floating about in daylight
( as a rule mid May to mid/late August ).

However the rest of the year is a different matter....
We may be lucky enough to see a migrant come in off the North Sea at Dawdon or Hartlepool or a male arcing about in a Springtime display flight, other than that chances to observe flying birds are few & far between.

Winter Daylight hunting Long-eareds are at a premium here - personally i can recall no more than a dozen occasions where ive seen such activity in over 2 decades.

Below is a series of phenomenal images taken recently in North East England by Mr D.Johnson .
(  D.Johnson website - www.djohnson.org as if you needed a reminder !)

These are of a very accommodating winter hunting Asio otus.
A just reward for many hours dedication, patience & fieldcraft.

Enjoy !

this ones my favourite !

and just a few more ;-)     :-

and we thought we'd all done well with our Shortie pics !

( hopefully Mr Johnson will be resting on his laurels for a while & be giving us mere mortals a look in ;-)  )

Rain extends play

Recent deluges impacting on nocturnal hunting

Tuesday nights downpours resulting in Long-eareds hunting throughout much of the following day

Heres a short clip :-

A well advanced youngster singing for his supper

Within a week or so, they'll begin following the adults out on hunting trips - at the moment they remain close to the safety of thick cover.

At the time they begin flying out, they can be incredibly inquisitive, even more so if you happen to have a dog wandering around with you !

Gradually they'll start flying further & further afield - returning to roost together the next morning.

On the whole they'll remain in these family units through the remainder of the year, untill the adult birds start over again the following Spring - even then some can remain in the parents territory as non breeders.

Begging tails off towards the end of July & we seldom hear any after mid August in Co.Durham.

From memory my latest begging juv was @ 20th August

Images courtesy of DK,one of our many keen local owlers.