Eagle owl sighting

[Joella52]

We saw what could only be an eagle owl yesterday (31st Oct) around Ribble Valley/Hodder Valley in Lancashire

Funnily enough we saw it about 5 months ago (in the exact same square mile area) but couldn't quite believe that we had been correct in our identification but yesterday there was no doubt. It just couldn't have been anything else. Huge (way way bigger than a buzzard) I took a picture but it is unidentifiable from that, as it was so far away by the time I got my act together.

Is the jury still out about these birds? Should I report it to anyone? I know we did have a few pairs living up towards Trough of Bowland area but this was about 8 miles away as the crow (or the eagle owl) flies. Does anyone know anything about their ecology- do they cover a large habitat? Maybe it was one of the Trough birds. They have caused a lot of controversy because they will prey on rare native species - I think recently Hen Harrier remains were found in an Eagle Owl nest -so I don't want to be too specific about places here, but if someone is keeping records of sightings and numbers etc I could give grid refs etc.

Anyway here are the pictures - I absolutely apologise for their terrible quality and completely understand if you dismiss me with a sneer but seriously this bird flew over the road we were driving on. We slammed on the breaks (Checking the rear mirror first etc ... obviously) and jumped out - by then it was flying away over the field towards the woods at far end. Anyway make what you will of the pictures. I guess it is just possible an expert out there may recognise the shape or get a feel for the size.

[Acipiter]

There was one in the Cambridge Herts area for some time, it was a lost falconers bird, yours could the same.

[RobS]

Your picture could be anything but I am sure you are right. There is a book by Christopher Lever which gives information about their existence

The Naturalized Animals of Britain and Ireland: Amazon.co.uk: Christopher Lever: Books

And this might give you some info too

Feathers Fly Over UK Eagle Owls

Rob S

[Rye]

Going by the pictures of the shape alone I think you could very well be correct, well done if that tends to be the case.

[faz]

the profile matches a a european eagle owl ( bubo bubo ) i think it is hard from the pictures but i would say so

[RKB]

Have a read of these:

Eagle Owls predate English Hen Harriers | British Birds

http://www.britishbirds.co.uk/wp-con...in-Britain.pdf

The jury is only "out" in the same way that it's out for climate change, ruddy ducks, and signal crayfish.

[RoyW]

I don't think that your photos can be used at all to help confirm what you saw (as you originally thought). The features visible in the photos (shape etc) may fit with Eagle Owl, but if you had said that you thought it was a Short-eared Owl, or a Buzzard, they would be equally supportive of those ID's as well! It's impossible to properly judge size from the photos, and size can be equally difficult to judge in real life, but if it was far bigger than a Buzzard it would fit with Eagle Owl (a recently escaped one, or perhaps one that was raised locally).
Eagle Owls are usually nocturnal though, so it would be unusual, but not impossible, to see one flying in daylight.

Originally Posted by RKB

The jury is only "out" in the same way that it's out for climate change, ruddy ducks, and signal crayfish.

What? You mean that some people don't like the conclusions that have been reached so they consider the matter to be undecided in the hope that "the jury" can eventually be swayed to agree with their way of thinking?

[faz]

my replie to this sighting is based on the poor picture as well as the person who saw it flying from the profile of the picture it dose look like a eagle owl
bubo bubo as i have flown them for many many years and have seen them in the distance many times that is what i have based my suggestion on im not following every body else suggestion as roy w suggests

[Acipiter]

Thats it Faz, you tell them.

[faz]

Originally Posted by Acipiter

Thats it Faz, you tell them.