Labour has called for grouse shooting to be licensed after a big increase in illegal killings of birds of prey during the coronavirus lockdown, the majority of which, investigators say, are linked to the sport. As the grouse shooting season, known as the Glorious 12th, officially began on Wednesday, the shadow environment secretary, Luke Pollard, […]
Tag: Short-Eared Owl
Kazakh steppes
The final days of the Rockjumper tour I was leading were spent in the steppes and wetlands around Nursultan (until recently Astana…). Together with our sharp-eyed local guide Andrey, we birded one day west of the city, and another day south. Birding was fantastic, with non-stop action both in quality and in numbers. Insect load […]
Great visit to Wallasea Island
Sometimes a days birding can deliver very little and then sometimes days like today come along where it all seems to go right. A Barn Owl as we pulled into the track to the reserve followed by two Short-eared Owls hunting at first light then a male Merlin flashes across us and sits out on […]
Short eared Owls at Burwell Fen
Another visit to Burwell where at least thirteen Short-eared Owls performed well all afternoon. Because there were a few about they called regularly and had a few interactions with each other and the local kestrels and crows.
The last week in Norfolk
The last week was spent in Norfolk with our grandson. Birding was limited with days out tailored more to the little one with a trip to Hunstanton Sea life Aquarium his highlight. Watching the lights get turned on at Holt was an unexpected high point too. On the birding front I managed to to connect […]
Grey Catbird – Cornwall – 18th-23rd October
Sarah, Tobias and I had a few days booked at our cottage between St.Ives and Zennor and with the Grey Catbird, first found on 15th October, still present come 18th I was anxious to get on the road to try and see the bird. Sarah washeading down at around 11:00 with Tobias but I couldn’t […]
Five Short-eared Owls – Al Asfar Lake
Greg Askew found a group of six Short-eared Owls near Al Asfar Lake, Hofuf 27 January. He very kindly let a couple of birders know and so I went the following weekend with Arnold and met up with Greg at the location. We arrived at first light and spent some time walking the area before […]
Two Winter Specialties At Stratford Point
Stratford Point just off I-95 above the Long Island Sound became host to a Short-eared Owl on 2 January according to eBird data. I closely followed reports of the Short-eared Owl on eBird as I had not observed the species in the wild before. As the owl was seen with regularity I began to study […]