Huge owl spotted??

trondi · #1 (**permalink**) 14-03-2010, 06:17 PM

My wife came in from her walk with her dog to report that she had seen a very large owl (half a metre in height?) standing in the open in the middle of a N Hants field.

This was about midday on a bright sunny with cloud day so she had good visibility from a distance of about 150/200m. She first thought it was a large hare without ears - but then noticed the wind was definitely ruffling feathers and it had obvious tufts for ears.

Its head was doing the 'turning its head ' thing that owls do and it did not have the profile of a buzzard (especially no large curved beak) very common in our fields - but buzzards always fly up quickly if they spot people. This bird stayed still, with a bit of preening, for some minutes while my wife watched on. Soft brown/beige colours with obvious markings - not uniform colour of a hare that we often see here too.

Unfortunately she was distracted with the dog for a moment and did not see the bird fly off. Could it have been an owl, in the middle of the day. If so what kind?

Picidae · #2 (**permalink**) 14-03-2010, 07:40 PM

Most likely owl would be a Short Eared Owl. They habitually hunt by day and often seen perched in fields. Colours better for SEO than eg. LEO/Eagle Owl which tend to be more rufous.

Size can be difficult to judge on perched birds but if it was alert (which it probable was if ears were visible, it's posture would appear more upright/'larger').

However, without more specific plumage details, LEO can't be definitely ruled out.

SheffieldLass · #3 (**permalink**) 14-03-2010, 07:40 PM

Short eared owl maybe. They are out and about in the daytime. Though you don't usually see ears with them.
Long-eared owls do have noticeable ears but are not usually about in the daytime except in the breeding season when feeding young.
Eagle owl is a very big owl with ears, and is out and about in the daytime. There are some in the UK.

So take your pick!

Picidae · #4 (**permalink**) 14-03-2010, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

Eagle owl is a very big owl with ears, and is out and about in the daytime. There are some in the UK.

Eagle Owl's like SEOs do not often show their tufts either! Whilst feral/wild EOs do hunt during the day most of their prey is taken at night as with LEO. They hunt from a perch as a general rule and use stealth and pounce or take birds in flight. Perhaps more akin to Tawny owl behaviour than SEO/Barn Owls. They are also more often than not being mobbed by other raptors and corvids when out during the day! (Of course this doesn't necessarily apply to a captive bird). Any Owl can be seen during the day if it's been flushed from it's roost site by walkers/dogs etc but they will quickly fly back to cover if disturbed.

trondi · #5 (**permalink**) 14-03-2010, 11:04 PM

Thanks everyone for your posts. Having shown some photos of those birds mentioned my wife thinks it looks most like the eagle owl. You are so right that judging size in the middle of a field is not easy so we will be taking our camera with us for the next few days just in case......

The thought that eagle owls maybe about is exciting/concerning?

I still find it amazing that after more than 20 years of dog walking around the same fields that new sightings are not reducing - LOL maybe we are just getting more observant in our old age!

Dave

Susie · #6 (**permalink**) 14-03-2010, 11:18 PM

There was something on the news the other day about an escaped large owl, I think that was an eagle owl.

http://www.independent.co.uk/environ...e-1920721.html

rossy · #7 (**permalink**) 14-03-2010, 11:29 PM

if thats the case it is an eagle owl keep your dog on the lead as a eagle owl could go for it , rossy

2dogs2000 · #8 (**permalink**) 15-03-2010, 12:19 AM

My friend was on her way to work last week and I believe she saw an eagle owl (from her description). This was between Stamford and Corby (Northants). She actually drove past and turned back to have another look, but it was gone. She often sees Buzzards and Red Kites on her journey and she knew it wasn't either of them. At the time I discounted Eagle Owl as I thought she must be mistaken, but now I am not so sure.

Trondi -Where abouts in N'thants did your wife see the owl?

The Woodman · #9 (**permalink**) 15-03-2010, 08:56 AM

In Susies link it reads that the DEFRA spokeswoman says that the Wildlife and Countryside Act didn't come into effect until April 3rd.

Is this another case of bad reporting or poor communication?

Picidae · #10 (**permalink**) 15-03-2010, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Woodman

In Susies link it reads that the DEFRA spokeswoman says that the Wildlife and Countryside Act didn't come into effect until April 3rd.

Is this another case of bad reporting or poor communication?

Not really. (Unless you are unfamiliar with recent amendments to WCA) The article refers to the penalties for deliberately releasing Eagle Owls which were added to Schedule 9 (WCA as amended) in December along with other additions, which makes it illegal to release non-native/alien species into the wild. Schedule 14 dealing with penalties was also amended. The newly amended sections of the WCA doesn't come into effect until 3rd April 2010.