some Little Owls

Back at a few of my old haunts
Lots of Little Owls about

I peered over a ledge & managed to get a nice image of this one - i dont know who got the biggest surprise !

The next one was also on a Limestone rock face:-

This one was curious as i was semi-concealed, but he seemed more interested in  the small birds flitting around him.

Little Owls seen / heard this past week at Pittington, Moorsley, Littletown, Broomside, Haswell, Shotton, Daisy Hill, Chilton Moor.

Little surprise / Little above

A recent unforeseen move is already paying dividends, with 4 owl species over the last few days, with fresh evidence of Barn Owl too.
A Short-eared hunting an industrial site, Long-eared hunting at dusk, several Tawny on call & several Littles.

Shorter days

Within a space of little over a week our local Short-eareds have changed tact from daylight hunting to crepuscular activity.

Early

At the weekend i watched 2 of the Shorties vanish as soon as the sun was up & at another site 2 more roosting late in the afternoon - but not hunting untill the light had almost gone -

When it did, the first thing his bird attempted to catch was a Blackbird, swooping through thorns & boughs but failed on that attempt.

Hopefully theyll be out & about & a bit more conspicious as the winter kicks in.....

Late

Another roosting Long-eared Owl shot from DaveA from one of my old stomping grounds nr Sacriston ;-

Nicely taken - & just rewards from someone who doesnt mind putting a bit of time , effort & legwork in.

floaters

small numbers of Short-eared Owls now present right across our local area

.

Silhouetted Long-eared at dusk, perched up after an altercation with a passing Short-eared Owl.

An hour before the light went today produced a Little Owl with a Magpie in attendance, a Short-eared or two hunting with a Long-eared just after half-past, a Jack Snipe flicking past close by moving off out the way of the hunting asios.

At Ease

a roosting Long-eared in Elder, viewed from public footpath

Long & Short

An obscured view

A typical view

iPhone record of a Short just coming in after crossing the North Sea - amazing vis-mig.

roosting Long's

A roost of Long-eared Owls

& the fourth one was the closest....we hadnt even noticed it !

A clip of this fourth bird checking us out....

# # short OWL Clip # #

These birds all visible from a public footpath & we were pleased to have left the roost as we found it, intact.

Asio interaction 2 & 3. / Pics

cant be arsed to write these up in detail :-

#2 :
comes from The Gin Trap Ninja :-
adult Long-eared capturing a Reed Bunting & releasing it alive for one of its fledged young to have a pounce at.

#3:
comes from Yours truly :-
adult Long-eared following an adult Barn Owl for 10 mins. Followed every twist & turn, stopped on 3 occassions when Barnie perched up, no vocalisations, no harrassment or attacking - it was as if it was waiting for the Barn to catch something for it.

Heres a couple of this years images from J.Clarke over in Ireland :-

fine adult bird. J.Clarke.

2 in nest - J.Clarke.

Lucky dip box

Another fresh JWa Productions raptor box up.....

 

we had the young apprentice on hand again - he was first to see a noisy Kes circling above us as we worked

this may be the species which uses it first - although Stock Dove, Tawny, Grey Squirrel, Long-eared are all just as likely at this site.....

Long-eareds hunting at dusk at several local locations - i watched 2 hunting close together on Friday evening at 19:25 - one having a very pale tail - an individual i certainly havnt seen previously.

6 of the best

A short walk this evening with plenty of activity from Little Owls

I was scoping one with attending Magpie, from distance :-

when, from out of this bush:-

 

popped, this :-

 and a close up

 activity & vocals picking up as the light went - with several freshly ploughed fields, the going currently seems very good.