Elmley Owls this evening

galanthophile · #81 (**permalink**) 15-10-2011, 06:31 AM

You deserve it after all of your observations. Brilliant!

tceditor · #82 (**permalink**) 15-10-2011, 09:22 AM

That's amazing. Well done. Do we get to see the pictures?

KentYeti · #83 (**permalink**) 15-10-2011, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tceditor

That's amazing. Well done. Do we get to see the pictures?

Too dark for decent photos. And in any event at the point they were circling me they were too close for me to use the 300mm lens that was on my camera. I just stood there and enjoyed it!

I will add a bit to my Short Eared Owl Web Page, I did a detailed note of all that happened when I got home. The web page will include that and a couple of small photos I took at the very start of all the activity. But as I've said too dark to be any good. I'll post a link here when it's done.

No surprise that myself and those other two guys were down at Elmley this evening!

One Barn Owl started hunting the big field by the sea wall just before 18.00. Soon joined by a single Short Eared Owl. The Barn Owl had a kill on the sea wall, then what I think were a couple of Marsh Harriers flew over and disturbed both the Owls. The Barn Owl seemed to fly off West, not in a special hurry. And I think the Short Eared Owl landed until the Harriers flew off. Getting dark by then and it was some distance away, so cannot be certain that was how it coped with the perceived threat.

I got one blurred dark and out of focus shot of the encounter, and before what I think was the Short Eared Owl landing that shows they they did get rather close to each other.

The pair of Little Owls were seen and heard by two others in their usual area around the Kingshill Farm buildings.

Did get a barely passable shot of the Barn Owl tonight. After sunset. But I think it's my first in focus and not blurred shot at that distance of a B.O.F in such dull lighting with my 300mm plus 1.7 TC! (ie 500mm combination). And as one eye is just visible I haven't deleted it. Yet!

Cheers,

Bryan

KentYeti · #84 (**permalink**) 20-10-2011, 08:19 PM

The hoped for bright and sunny evening wasn't that good in the end, and after a redish sunset the light dropped very quickly. The Little Owl did start calling some time before sundown, but the Barn Owls and Short Eared Owl waited until around 20 minutes after sunset before starting to hunt, when it was getting quite dark.

One Barn Owl left the roost, started to fly it's normal route down to the seawall. Then seemed to go back to collect it's mate! But they soon parted company with one coming down to the seawall and the other looking like it headed off in the general direction of the old school.

By the time the seawall Barn Owl had got to that point, a Short Eared Owl appeared out of the gloom and started hunting the same area. Then both headed off. I know not where to, it was too dark to follow their progress!

Cheers,

Bryan

KentYeti · #85 (**permalink**) 20-10-2011, 08:53 PM

Took a photo tonight in almost complete darkness. Only managed to get focus because of the light colouring of the Barn Owl. Was going to delete it, but noticed the cattle show up in the background, which maybe adds just a little.

"Barn Owl hunting at Night". Well, that's what they are supposed to do isn't it! LOL.

Cheers,

Bryan