Which Owl?

[Dogghound]

During the summer i was enjoying a relaxing evening in my garden, as the light was dimming to my surprise a very large owl landed on the roof of a house at the bottom of my garden, i live in North yorkshire, on the edge of a town close to a large area of hilly mixed woodland, which is on the edge of dalby forest a large conifer plantation, the owl had ear tufts but was larger than a long eared owl, i couldnt see any detail as it was getting dark. Any ideas could it have been an eagle owl? Cheers

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

During the summer i was enjoying a relaxing evening in my garden, as the light was dimming to my surprise a very large owl landed on the roof of a house at the bottom of my garden, i live in North yorkshire, on the edge of a town close to a large area of hilly mixed woodland, which is on the edge of dalby forest a large conifer plantation, the owl had ear tufts but was larger than a long eared owl, i couldnt see any detail as it was getting dark. Any ideas could it have been an eagle owl? Cheers

Perhaps it was yet another one of these escapees from a collection. There seems to be a lot of BOP that have turned up in different parts of the country that are foreign species.
ww

[paulthomas]

There's a slight possibility that it may have been an Eagle Owl. There's a pair breeding in North Yorkshire.

[chunkychambers]

I think there is a place on military land where Eagle Owls have been breeding in N. Yorkshire.
The programe has been going for some years now and has been successful, the offspring are gradually expanding their range and indeed one male was discovered as far south as Hampshire, unfortunately it was dead.

So, it is possible that an Eagle Owl sat on your roof.........I think the give away would be size, and the very low booming call....
The call in particular is unmistakeable, there's nothing like it....

Keep your eyes peeled, you never know...
Paul

[Dorcas]

agree - haven't this pair of eagle owls been rather prolific - I think they made the news this year - might be worth a google on it

[scholesy]

The feamle of the breedaing pair of eagle owls that used the Ministry of Defence site in Yorkshire Dales was shot and killed around the turn of this year.

Below is the story:

Yorkshire Dales News: TV star Owl shot and killed

I haven't read or heard if the male found a new mate and bred again this year.

If you are interested in the RSPB's stance on the European eagle owl, a link to this is below:

Eagle owl - The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

At the moment the RSPB is monitoring the situation, and assessing the impact the increasing popyulation of eagle owls is having on native fauna.

[Dogghound]

cheers for the replys, it dint make any noises, but was much larger than any native owl, its a shame to hear some idiot shot that female eagle owl, dont understand why you would want to kill such a nice bird