The Two Bird Theory: Short-eared Owl

Monday, 2 November 2015

Short-eared Owl

1st November 2015 - Topsham

A walk around Highfield Farm, Topsham yesterday produced a Firecrest - views too brief and light too dark for photos - and this Short-eared Owl, flushed from the wet meadows by the river. It got up just a few metres away and settled at only a short distance atop a hedge. Before we could approach the local Jackdaws took real objection to it and chased it off down the valley, I lost it in the distance over Darts Farm - maybe still in the area?

Both Firecrest and Short-eared Owl new birds for the Farm, though oddly I've recorded both from our garden which is just a stone's throw away.

Short-eared Owl - Highfield Farm, Topsham, 1/11/2015


Short-eared Owl - Highfield Farm, Topsham, 1/11/2015. Chased off by Jackdaws.	C

Short-eared Owl - Highfield Farm, Topsham, 1/11/2015

Tuesday, 4 March 2014

Short-eared Owls

3rd March 2014 - Steart, Somerset

Short-eared Owls have been thin on the ground locally this winter with no regular birds on the Exminster Marshes. As my brother Chris needed a lift to Bristol Airport I thought a small detour on the way back was in order. So, brother promptly deposited at departures, I parked at Combwich and headed along the Parrett Trail towards Steart in search of owls. I walked about ten miles (so good exercise value), only got wet once (in spite of the black clouds to east and west) and found at least three and possibly five Short-eared Owls, photographs were taken, of course.

Short-eared Owl - Steart 3/3/2014

Due to a malfunction - of the photographer, not the camera - I missed a lot of good shots (must remember to check autofocus is not in continuous mode). Although it's not saying much, these are the best photos I've ever got of SE Owl. The next is my favourite, a bird flushed from the embankment just in front of me and circled past with what's just got to be a look of annoyance.