Short-eared owl courtship display

Emma S · #1 (**permalink**) 26-03-2008, 10:09 PM

Hi folks,

It's been a little while since I last called in here, but I felt I should share with you the wonderful thing I was lucky to see today.

I was driving home from work at around 5.30 on the Lancs / West Yorks border. It is very hilly countryside with (quite) wild moorland on the hill tops. The road I was on cut through some of the bleakest moorland areas.

I spotted a pair of large birds with long wings, clearly two of the same species. I pulled over, and although I didn't have my binoculars with me I could see that they were short-eared owls as they were close enough to see the wedge-shape of the head and body, the long wings with pale undersides and the barring, plus the distinctive languorous wing beats.

They were flying quite high for owls, circling round and round each other quite tightly, rising higher as they circled and slowly swooped around each other, then descending a little. One in particular seemed to be being 'attentive' to the other, and the other appeared to be playing it a little cool. As the attentive one circled round the other, he (I'm assuming it's the 'he') did short bursts of rapid wing claps, both visible to me, and the clapping noise easily audible.

This carried on for five minutes or so, then they slowly flapped away over the horizon.

It was very exciting! I feel privilaged to have watched it. I'm assuming it was courtship behaviour rather than territorial behaviour because neither owl seemed hostile to the other as if it was trying to drive it off.

I love owls, some of my favourite birds. I'll be keeping an eye on this area of moorland now, in case they stay to breed.

And, as if that wasn't enough, as I turned to get back into my car a stoat ran across the road in front of me, not ten feet away.

Wonderful!

James M · #2 (**permalink**) 26-03-2008, 10:21 PM

What a great sight that must have been, never seen them myself. Were you anywhere near Saddleworth?

JeffH · #3 (**permalink**) 26-03-2008, 10:51 PM

That's a great thing to have seen Emma, and a very nice report - thanks for sharing it.

Jeff

Emma S · #4 (**permalink**) 26-03-2008, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James M

What a great sight that must have been, never seen them myself. Were you anywhere near Saddleworth?

Hi James, no it was on the hills above Todmorden.

John · #5 (**permalink**) 26-03-2008, 11:15 PM

Amazing piece of luck Emma. That's something I would love to see and by the sound of it they were possibly close by.

Shame you didn't have a camera with you as the resulting photos could have been a bit special.

John

Pete Collins · #6 (**permalink**) 26-03-2008, 11:24 PM

That must have been a wonderful experience! Thanks for sharing it with us.

Emma S · #7 (**permalink**) 26-03-2008, 11:25 PM

These things always seem to happen when I have neither my camera or my binoculars with me!

Still, it was lovely to just watch it.

Kayleigh · #8 (**permalink**) 26-03-2008, 11:29 PM

You have made a lot of people very envious on this site..What a wonderful very privileged experience..Thanks for sharing

Emma S · #9 (**permalink**) 26-03-2008, 11:33 PM

I just wondered - does courtship behaviour over an area mean that they have chosen that as a nesting area? Anyone got any opinions on this?

aeshna5 · #10 (**permalink**) 27-03-2008, 06:52 AM

As Kayleigh says we are envious yet so pleased for you to share this wonderful experience. One of those wildlife days you'll not forget- thanks for sharing it with us!