 |
| young Little from July |
Little Owl enjoying the morning sun
Young Barn Owl roosting late afternoon.
Sunday, 18 September 2011
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
Big Wind, Little Owl
Dont know how those folk manage on the other side of the Atlantic....
we only get the very tail end of their weather & it brings death & destruction...
Yesterday the gales abated somewhat and it was realy quite pleasant out of the breeze, particularly in the warm sun - this brought out a number of butterfly including Red Admiral, Wall, Small Tortoishell, Small Copper & Speckled Wood, with a small number of Darters & Hawkers in the damper spots.
They werent the only ones out in the sunshine - a family of Little Owls had found a nice sheltered spot & were basking in the warmth.
Every now & then the 2 youngsters would drop onto the ground for items before returning to roost blissfully in the sun with very heavy eyes.
Sitting so conspiciously they drew the attention of several passing species which alarmed & mobbed them to various degrees - Yellowhammer, Robin, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Blackbird & Willow Tit all in attendance - with the Blackbird im not sure if it was a case of the owl being mobbed or the thrush being hunted !, as the Little flapped about & clambered through the scrub. ( twice we've noted local Blackbird as a LO prey item )
The adults were far more active & attentive - not allowing as close an approach.
A Collared Dove came in to land close to the family, but had an adult owl on its tail before it had chance to touch down - they appear to be feisty little things at times.
Very soon the excitement was over, a quick call to reassure the youngsters & it was time for another 40 winks.....
Postscript:
This was towards the edge of their territory & exactly the spot were they had tried to nest before a box was supplied for them.
The previous attempt failed & the owls disappeared for a good while (a single reappeared within the year, but it was 18 month before a pair were re-established in the territory) after the rabbit hole they were using was mistakenly dug out by terrier-men.
I wouldnt have thought it would be long before the youngsters are leaving to try to find their own home ranges....
we only get the very tail end of their weather & it brings death & destruction...
Yesterday the gales abated somewhat and it was realy quite pleasant out of the breeze, particularly in the warm sun - this brought out a number of butterfly including Red Admiral, Wall, Small Tortoishell, Small Copper & Speckled Wood, with a small number of Darters & Hawkers in the damper spots.
They werent the only ones out in the sunshine - a family of Little Owls had found a nice sheltered spot & were basking in the warmth.
Sitting so conspiciously they drew the attention of several passing species which alarmed & mobbed them to various degrees - Yellowhammer, Robin, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Blackbird & Willow Tit all in attendance - with the Blackbird im not sure if it was a case of the owl being mobbed or the thrush being hunted !, as the Little flapped about & clambered through the scrub. ( twice we've noted local Blackbird as a LO prey item )
The adults were far more active & attentive - not allowing as close an approach.
A Collared Dove came in to land close to the family, but had an adult owl on its tail before it had chance to touch down - they appear to be feisty little things at times.
Postscript:
This was towards the edge of their territory & exactly the spot were they had tried to nest before a box was supplied for them.
The previous attempt failed & the owls disappeared for a good while (a single reappeared within the year, but it was 18 month before a pair were re-established in the territory) after the rabbit hole they were using was mistakenly dug out by terrier-men.
I wouldnt have thought it would be long before the youngsters are leaving to try to find their own home ranges....
Monday, 12 September 2011
Asio interaction 1
An account of an hour or so watching a Long-eared Owl family in action a few weeks back - which threw up a surprise.
( images for illustrative purposes, copyright of D.Johnson - link below)
It was mid evening & all was quiet - on approaching the site, unfortunately the youngest owl was at the pathside & he came off from his low level roost, at the first sign of me.......
its siblings however stood their ground, much higher in the canopy, so i moved off site to await activity from range, scanning the cleared fields with telescope produced a couple of Hares , with roaming flocks of Curlew & Lapwing, with Pheasant & Grey Partridge all around.
A singing Quail caught my attention, it appeared to be coming from the edge of a newly ploughed field.
As the evening wore on, the moon began to rise & activity commenced.
Two of the youngsters began begging as both adults drifted out to hunt.
While the adults were away i moved closer & backed out of sight into the corner of a hedge & could see & hear the 3 young birds.
They were prominant at close range on the edge of the copse - awaiting their suppers.
After 2 food drops, the light went & the youngsters became bolder.
All three flew a short distance to land on recently ploughed ground, head bobbing & staring down intently at various points.
One flew up to land on a post 20' away & i squeaked the back of my hand - 2 of the youngsters came by for a close look - the first was bold & flew directly, veering off only at the last moment. The second bird seemed particularly intruiged, hovering infront of me until its curiousity was satisfied.
The begging calls disguising the fact that they are now accomplished flyers, wheeling round & landing accurately without hesitation.
After a couple of food passes, these 2 youngsters each followed an adult out, begging all the while upsetting Lapwings in the process.
The hunger calls were a good few hundred metres away & a similar distance apart, but the 3rd youngster remained on the ground close to the nest area begging irregularly.
Within moments an adult approached the nest area carrying prey, it came in from the West behind a hedgerow - the grounded youngster was unawares, im presuming the adult took this indirect route as it was aware of me....
It was the female bird, she called sharply several times & i imagined the youngster would make a bee-line for her, but not a bit of it. - The lazy article sat begging in the stubble, the female flying its meal in & landed to feed it on the ground.
Only a smalll detail, but i cant remember seeing them being fed like this previously - being grounded surely putting both at risk...
Post Script:-
A September 12th update from our very stealthy Mr Gin-Trap Johnson
where he informs us of one of this years young Long-eared's roosting on the ground within its windswept copse - the bird obviously sitting out the tail end of the atlantic Hurricane rather than be blown off its perch !
( images for illustrative purposes, copyright of D.Johnson - link below)
It was mid evening & all was quiet - on approaching the site, unfortunately the youngest owl was at the pathside & he came off from his low level roost, at the first sign of me.......
its siblings however stood their ground, much higher in the canopy, so i moved off site to await activity from range, scanning the cleared fields with telescope produced a couple of Hares , with roaming flocks of Curlew & Lapwing, with Pheasant & Grey Partridge all around.
A singing Quail caught my attention, it appeared to be coming from the edge of a newly ploughed field.
As the evening wore on, the moon began to rise & activity commenced.
Two of the youngsters began begging as both adults drifted out to hunt.
While the adults were away i moved closer & backed out of sight into the corner of a hedge & could see & hear the 3 young birds.
They were prominant at close range on the edge of the copse - awaiting their suppers.
After 2 food drops, the light went & the youngsters became bolder.
All three flew a short distance to land on recently ploughed ground, head bobbing & staring down intently at various points.
One flew up to land on a post 20' away & i squeaked the back of my hand - 2 of the youngsters came by for a close look - the first was bold & flew directly, veering off only at the last moment. The second bird seemed particularly intruiged, hovering infront of me until its curiousity was satisfied.
The begging calls disguising the fact that they are now accomplished flyers, wheeling round & landing accurately without hesitation.
 |
| another food drop - NB the wear on the ends of flights. |
The hunger calls were a good few hundred metres away & a similar distance apart, but the 3rd youngster remained on the ground close to the nest area begging irregularly.
Within moments an adult approached the nest area carrying prey, it came in from the West behind a hedgerow - the grounded youngster was unawares, im presuming the adult took this indirect route as it was aware of me....
It was the female bird, she called sharply several times & i imagined the youngster would make a bee-line for her, but not a bit of it. - The lazy article sat begging in the stubble, the female flying its meal in & landed to feed it on the ground.
Only a smalll detail, but i cant remember seeing them being fed like this previously - being grounded surely putting both at risk...
Post Script:-
A September 12th update from our very stealthy Mr Gin-Trap Johnson
where he informs us of one of this years young Long-eared's roosting on the ground within its windswept copse - the bird obviously sitting out the tail end of the atlantic Hurricane rather than be blown off its perch !
Tuesday, 23 August 2011
Mix of pics LEO, LO, BO
Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Jar on a Log
Took these images at the beginning of the month :-
Took this image a week or so later.... after the downpours......
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.
 |
| Re-edited with free software from 'Picnic' |
 |
| Jar nest with 2 |
 |
| Jar nest with 2 floating.... |
Looking forward to spending more time in their company in 2012.
Friday, 5 August 2011
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 very nice surprise indeed.
Thursday, 4 August 2011
a couple of owl pics
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:-
#
Another short clip showing the 3 youngsters as the light fades
#
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.
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.
Friday, 22 July 2011
Show Starter
A couple of trips to Hamsterley between the downpours at the start of the week:-
#
As soon as this forest edge Tawny moved off, the show began & the first male Nightjar appeared in good light - sadly, i fluffed all the photo opportubities, but the birds put on a superb display, 4 males, 2 females & at least 2 fledged juvs. (different size, shape & weak flyers)
Earliest i heard churring was 8:10pm - although this burst may have been in responce to the prescence of a Jay near the nest area.
#
#Clip, male Nightjar circling above us, moves off contact calling "goo-ick" & flies on, persued by a fledged juvenile.
Nightjar going away
# Camera phone image of 1 going past 15' away - taken well after the light had gone @ 10:40pm
A couple of fledged juvenile Nighjars were flying around , occasionally begging, with one crash landing into a tree !
Also begging were fledged Woodcock young ( couple of ads still roding )trailing adults & Green Woodpecker with fledged young too:-
One Nest site was close to the track :-
Fragment of hatched Njar egg
#
Earliest i heard churring was 8:10pm - although this burst may have been in responce to the prescence of a Jay near the nest area.
#
#Clip, male Nightjar circling above us, moves off contact calling "goo-ick" & flies on, persued by a fledged juvenile.
A couple of fledged juvenile Nighjars were flying around , occasionally begging, with one crash landing into a tree !
Also begging were fledged Woodcock young ( couple of ads still roding )trailing adults & Green Woodpecker with fledged young too:-
One Nest site was close to the track :-
Monday, 11 July 2011
Sing for ya Supper
Checked up on the 2nd clutch pair
female still sitting tightly & not making a sound - a mob of noisy young Crows were close by.
Her mate came in high from a good way off, hearing the corvids, he not only dropped but snuck into the edge of the wood & continued in, i just glimpsed him on his way to the nest tree - moments later the crows were all up...
i didnt see, but presume he scattered them, as 3 flew out from cover adjacent to the nest tree.
Later he came in & followed a similar pattern - high approach, steep decent close to the wood & into the far end ( last years nest site, where young were stolen from the nest) - where the Tawny was calling, within moments it was calling again from 50metres away, whilst the male Long-eared came back out of the plantation where he had entered & continued on a direct course to the nest.
Ive had Tawnies & Long-eareds using the same woods for years & years - often the Long-eareds will switch ends (possibly in responce to available nests ?) & as such initial visits suggest that the Leos appear to have vacated the territory.... more often than not this is not the case - theyre simply more mobile than those fat old Brown owls.
No images from me on this one.....
so i'll leave you to savour a snap from one the the regions most talented wildlife camera-men, 'The Gin-Trap Ninja'.
Plenty more in his gallery, but this one is a bit special :-
female still sitting tightly & not making a sound - a mob of noisy young Crows were close by.
Her mate came in high from a good way off, hearing the corvids, he not only dropped but snuck into the edge of the wood & continued in, i just glimpsed him on his way to the nest tree - moments later the crows were all up...
i didnt see, but presume he scattered them, as 3 flew out from cover adjacent to the nest tree.
Later he came in & followed a similar pattern - high approach, steep decent close to the wood & into the far end ( last years nest site, where young were stolen from the nest) - where the Tawny was calling, within moments it was calling again from 50metres away, whilst the male Long-eared came back out of the plantation where he had entered & continued on a direct course to the nest.
Ive had Tawnies & Long-eareds using the same woods for years & years - often the Long-eareds will switch ends (possibly in responce to available nests ?) & as such initial visits suggest that the Leos appear to have vacated the territory.... more often than not this is not the case - theyre simply more mobile than those fat old Brown owls.
No images from me on this one.....
so i'll leave you to savour a snap from one the the regions most talented wildlife camera-men, 'The Gin-Trap Ninja'.
Plenty more in his gallery, but this one is a bit special :-
Spot of Lunch at Lanchester - Canny gob-full there marra.
Friday, 8 July 2011
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.
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)