Sunday 12th November 2023 - Short Eared Owl

 

Bird spotters all have bogey birds that they have been trying to find for years, we call them BLOCKERS,  amongst many for me is Short Eared Owl so it was great to hear that one had been seen from a train at Batheaston on Friday but too late in the day to see it then also Saturday was out as I promised Mary we would do a walk at Newton St Loe (see previous blog) so Saturday was out. Well we decided Sunday morning we would try for it but when we got up it was awful weather which no self-respecting owl would choose to go out in so instead had an early lunch. The weather was looking just slightly better so decided to go for it. It was still dull and overcast but not raining so was hoping for the best. When we arrived at the place it had been seen, 2 other guys were there looking for it but it had been a no show  but we hung around waiting watching a Kestrel out hunting and in the distance a Red Kite being mobbed by a Herring Gull. I watched the Kite as it flew closer but in so doing missed the Owl as it appeared from on the ground only to drop back down again, well I was beginning to think that it would not show again knowing my luck but a bit later it reappeared and quartered the field dropping down out of sight before flying up again, It was fantastic to see and even came close enough for Mary to see it with the naked eye but still too far away for me to get a picture with my camera but 2 birding mates Dave Hughes and Wayne Tucker have kindly agreed to let me use their photographs in this blog, So once again thanks to both of you.

Short Eared Owl courtesy of Dave Hughes

Short Eared Owl courtesy of Wayne Tucker (NSL Birding)


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