Little Owl

18ck · #1 (**permalink**) 22-09-2010, 07:19 AM

I saw what I'm pretty sure was a Little Owl in Richmond Park yesterday. It was hanging around outside a rabbit hole so I assumed it was waiting for breakfast perhaps in the form of a baby rabbit but I read about them online and I see they are more interested in worms and snails so I guess maybe it was looking for worms in the sand kicked up by the rabbits in digging the hole. Either that or it was a youngster of a different type of owl... but I don't think so. Size and colour were right, and it had been daylight for about an hour and a half. I didn't hear its call so can't vouch for hooting or lack thereof.
Very excited anyway. I though the green woodpecker was going to be my spot of the day but seeing my first ever owl-in-the-wild outweighed that easily!

stevecn · #2 (**permalink**) 22-09-2010, 07:40 AM

yes there are sightings of them in my area aswell, cant wait to see one, altho still over the moon with my 1st kingfisher last week and i got some pics!!

18ck · #3 (**permalink**) 22-09-2010, 07:58 PM

Ah, i've been outbirded! i've never seen a kf - i'd love to though - i'm sure there are some nearby!

stevecn · #4 (**permalink**) 22-09-2010, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 18ck

Ah, i've been outbirded! i've never seen a kf - i'd love to though - i'm sure there are some nearby!

no, ive not seen alittle owl! would love to tho!

hey i got bbc wildlife mag today and there is abit about richmond pk in it, if you want to see a kf it said between richmond park and bushy park there is a stretch of thames thats a hot spot for kf maybe you should get yourself down there, check the mag theres a map in it

aeshna5 · #5 (**permalink**) 23-09-2010, 04:33 AM

Little Owls are regular in Richmond Park + no doubt is what you saw, though Tawny Owls are also resident in the park. Last year a pair of Long-eared Owls attempted to breed.

There are very occasioanl records of Barn + especially Short-eared Owl on passage/winter.

Kingfishers are regularly seen along Beverley Brook that runs through the park + sometimes seen on Pen Ponds, though the former is more reliable. Grey Wagtails are also seen here.

The park will be featured on Autumnwatch for the rut + a few other creatures being shown, but I'll leave that as a surprise!

Deb London · #6 (**permalink**) 23-09-2010, 06:33 AM

Now I'm intrigued. I can never normally stomach these programs, but I did think what I saw of SW this time was better than before, and so I'm almost looking forward to AW now you've said this, aeshna5.