My Outback 2004 / 35

[birdman]

Just took a quickish walk out between ¼ to 9 and ¼ past 10 on a cloudy but surprisingly warm Friday evening, in the hope of catching up with an owl or two for my daughter.

We were partly successful, managing to see a Little Owl perched on a bare branch before it “disappeared” into the gloom.

Not surprisingly for the time of evening, we didn’t actually id much else, but the list is pleasing nonetheless.

Plain text = Outback day tick
Bold text = Outback year tick
(Number in brackets is highest number of individuals identified at one time)

Grey Partridge : 1 (1)
Pheasant : 1 (1)
Mallard : 8 (8)
Green Woodpecker : 1 (1)
Swift : 5 (5)
Little Owl : 1 (1)
Coot : 1 (1)
Kestrel : 1 (1)
Carrion Crow : 2 (2)
Blackbird : 3 (2)
Robin : 3 (2)
Starling : 1 (1)
Swallow : 1 (1)
House Martin : 30 (30)
Willow Warbler : 1 (1)
Skylark : 3 (2)
Chaffinch : 1 (1)

[Tero]

I'm pretty Ornithologically Challenged with owls. One owl in two years. Some kingbirds were mobbing it, so I noted it at all.

[birdman]

We don't have too many to get confused by, fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately).

Short-eared and Long-eared Owls are a bit tricky... but a good enough view of Little, Tawny and Barn and even I can separate those!

[Karl J]

I've never seen a Little Owl but i seem to remember on tv someone (.... Bill Oddie maybe ?? ... ) saying how they often sit in the sun during the daytime.

[birdman]

Certainly seen them during daylight!

[Andrew]

I have never seen a Tawny Owl!

Enjoy the race? Shame Button had traffic problems everytime he emerged from the pits. I reckon it made little difference anyway.

[birdman]

I have never seen a Tawny Owl!

Enjoy the race? Shame Button had traffic problems everytime he emerged from the pits. I reckon it made little difference anyway.
Seen one, just the once... manage to id Tawny's by call outback.

Of course, I enjoyed the race... I enjoyed them in 2002 sad-case that I am.

I agree entirely with your summary. Would've been nice to see Taku 2nd... got a bit of a soft spot for the guy. Needs to learn to watch the rash manoeuvre, although ultimately that made no difference today either!

[Andrew]

I thought he should get kudos for that bold move, it was like "Move over Ferrari, I'm havin' it!"

[birdman]

What with that, and the way he elbowed Schumi at Monaco, folks will start getting out of his way pretty sharpish... handy if you wanna overtake! Looks like there's no "After you, Claude" with Taku!