Sunday 8 January 2017

Hat-trick of Owls

With the forecast looking a bit better than yesterday, I was optimistic that I might at least finish the session without getting wet today. I left home at 5.45am where there was hardly any wind and so with good listening conditions, I drove around the Reculver lanes listening for Owls. I had only just arrived at Shuart in the dark and opened the window when I struck the jackpot, a Tawny Owl (88) called a few times. This is a very good bird for the area and it called a few more times in the next 30 minutes or so before it went quiet. I also had some nice views of a perched Barn Owl and heard its screeching call a few times in the darkness. The photo below was taken a few years ago out of the Reculver area but was pretty much my view I had this morning. As it got light, I drove back over to Reculver to park up where on the way, I saw 1 Common Buzzard and heard 1 Red legged Partridge. With the skies still quite dull but feeling mild and windless, I walked on down the seawall to Coldharbour and inland to Chambers Wall before retracing my steps back along the seawall. It even brightened up on the way back and a hint of sunshine broke through. Birds noted today were 2 Little Egret, 1 Little Owl (89), c200 Dark bellied Brent Geese, 1 Grey Wagtail, 52 Ringed Plover, 7 Turnstone, 7 Meadow Pipit, 10 Shelduck, 65 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank, 4 Pied Wagtail, 10 Reed Bunting, 3 Pheasant and as I scanned the pools in the Oyster Farm, I picked out an Avocet (90) which was feeding out in the water. There were 4 Stonechat, c60 Mallard, 18 Curlew together roosting in Coldharbour, 31 Corn Bunting, 25 Skylark, 3 Mute Swan, 2 Marsh Harrier, 6 Yellowhammer, 2 Tree Sparrow, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Sparrowhawk (91), 1 Red throated Diver on the sea, 1 Lapland Bunting flew west with Corn Buntings calling and a single Sanderling flew east. A pleasant walk in better conditions and a good variety of species seen today. 

Barn Owl




6 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Many thanks Bob. They most certainly are stunning birds.

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  2. Look's like you had a great day Marc,very early start,and your Year list has grown to 91,outstanding and it's only January,love your Barn Owl shot,pure magic.
    John.

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    Replies
    1. Many thanks John. A good start to the year. Hope it continues and the camera gets a good outing every now and then.

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  3. Well done, Marc! I've not had a hat-trick of owl species sightings since early 2016. It has not been a good year for owls in these parts.

    Your Barn Owl image is superb!

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