Elmley Owls this evening

KentYeti · #1 (**permalink**) 04-07-2011, 10:20 PM

Wow. What an evening!

Little Owl, Long Eared Owl and Barn Owls. Whilst I was there for over three hours all three were seen in the space of just over an hour.

First the Little Owl sunning itself. On the middle of the three oak trees visible from the viewing point by the ladies toilet.

The Long Eared Owl viewing was then courtesy of a very helpful resident RSPB warden who knew I was interested in seeing it. And when it returned to where it had roosted today, he came and led me (and some others) from our vantage point waiting for the Barn Owls to start feeding their young. And took us to exactly where we could see it roosting. He's putting a notice up first thing tomorrow as he expects them, (there are two), to stay on the reserve until September. Just on the right in amongst the trees opposite the Wardens House on the track that leads down to the hides.

And almost no sooner than we had all, (there were several of us there tonight), trooped back to the Barn Owl viewing point than feeding time started.

Mind blowing to watch. The speed with which the adults went off, caught a field mouse and brought it back. Fed the young and off again. These adults know their trade!

We joked there must be a supermarket just out of sight selling the poor little mice.

Took some photos. Extreme range for the Little Owl and the Barn Owls. And I was told the view I got of the Long Eared Owl is probably all I will ever see of one. Almost totally obscured by trees etc. We'll see about that!

So the photos are no more than very basic record shots of a wonderful evening of owl watching.

Bryan

PS. Thank you so very much Sunnydale for getting me going on this wonderful hobby.

2dogs2000 · #2 (**permalink**) 04-07-2011, 10:39 PM

What a fantastic evening you had. I love the one with the baby barn owls waiting for their meal.

Gillsboy · #3 (**permalink**) 06-07-2011, 09:46 AM

I was down there Sunday evening, no Little Owl or Barn Owl for me, but we did get to see the Long Eared, after we were kindly shown where it was, having walked past it 3 times while looking for it

Jackaroo · #4 (**permalink**) 06-07-2011, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KentYeti

Wow. What an evening!

First the Little Owl sunning itself. On the middle of the three oak trees visible from the viewing point by the ladies toilet.

Fantastic pictures K.Y. But I had to smile a wee bit. Where else but on WAB would the above statement be acceptable in polite society?

Seriously, am a little jealous. We often hear Owls in our vicinity but it's been difficult getting a clear view of them. We know they're there but it's taking time to figure out their hunting patterns. Never mind, patience is a virtue.

KentYeti · #5 (**permalink**) 06-07-2011, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackaroo

Fantastic pictures K.Y. But I had to smile a wee bit. Where else but on WAB would the above statement be acceptable in polite society?

Seriously, am a little jealous. We often hear Owls in our vicinity but it's been difficult getting a clear view of them. We know they're there but it's taking time to figure out their hunting patterns. Never mind, patience is a virtue.

From the first sentence of our reply I think we share the same sort of sense of humour.

Been getting me into trouble since I was knee high to a sparrow!

It is rather a strange place to have put a small viewing area, (just a flat base behind a wall. With two concrete blocks for children to stand on). But the layout of the car park and toilets is such that other buildings in the vicinity make it difficult to overlook the small lake and the Owl trees, including the entrance to the nesting box, from anywhere else in that immediate area.

For anyone planning to go there, it is of course a matter of chance when the adult Barn Owls start hunting in the evening. I've seen them start at around 20.00 to 20.15 on two days out of three in the last six days. On the other day I was there, (last Saturday evening), all I got up to when I left at around 20.40 was an occasional glimpse of an owl head inside the nest box entrance. I guess how good the previous days hunting was has a significant impact on when they need to start again.

My viewing starts at about 17.30 by the way.

I only saw the Little Owl because someone pointed it out to me. Would not have noticed it otherwise. Roosting on a branch on the right hand side of the middle oak tree maybe half way up.

Good news that the Long Eared Owl was seen again. Presumably in the same location near the Warden's House.

I plan an early morning trip there soon. Three different Owl species so close to each other has to be given quite a lot of time!

Bryan

Jackaroo · #6 (**permalink**) 07-07-2011, 06:46 AM

Hi K.Y.
Elmsley sounds a pretty cool set-up. I'm sure there must be similar sites in our general area, it's just a question of finding them out. Must make an effort to find out. Getting time is always a factor as well unfortunately. I can just imagine my better half's reaction if I came home in the evening from work and announced I was off to hunt in the woods for Owls. (She's generally understanding about my wee obsessions but has lines I dare not cross

) Thanks for sharing, gotta go, work calls.
Jack

sunnydale · #7 (**permalink**) 07-07-2011, 09:49 PM

Lucky, lucky you Bryan!

Lovely photos too!

Looks like I'll have to get down there again pretty soon, or I'll miss all the action!

Tracey

KentYeti · #8 (**permalink**) 07-07-2011, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KentYeti

......And I was told the view I got of the Long Eared Owl is probably all I will ever see of one. Almost totally obscured by trees etc. We'll see about that!

Bryan

Improving but still a long way to go to get one I'm really happy with!

This from this evenings visit to Elmley in mainly very dull and damp weather.

Taken with a 500mm F6.7 Nikon lens set up using my brand new Nikon D7000.

ISO 1000, f8 and 1/20th second. Using a decent tripod of course.

The Barn Owls started hunting late. With the same incredible speed of catching their prey as the other night. Even quicker in fact. Too dark and too far away for anything decent, but a record shot of one returning to the nest. Wing obscuring the short tailed vole it was carrying.

ISO 2500. 1/400 f6.7 hand held. I got the Nikon D7000 for it's High ISO perfomance. And that is very good.

Couldn't see the Little Owl tonight.

Bryan