Short-eared Owl?

[jeff]

Out last night about 20:00hrs looking for short-ears at Brandon. Is this it? I'm guessing so cause it was a big buggah!

[jeff]

Attached:

[simontucker]

Looks spot on to me.

[IanF]

I am always amazed by their apparent large size when in flight. Condisering they are quite small birds when perched, they look awfully big in flight.
I think you're right in that it is a Short Eared Owl.

[jeff]

Simon, IanF,

Thanks for the confirmation. I thought it must be, so that's long-ears and short-ears in the same year. I am doing well :-)

[sparroweye]

What lovely shots Jeff. I absolutely love owls. One evening
as I was walking our dog in the backyard woods, things
started swooping over our heads. At first I panicked thinking
bats. But then I heard the mother owl give a warning sound.
And I hurried the dog back into the house. It was a mother
owl taking her babies on their first practice flight. I was so
awed to have seen this. I hope to put up an owl house soon.
My husband keeps removing my dead tree's because of termites and carpenter ants. I love the old dead tree's.

[jeff]

They are starting to grow on me too. Prob. cause I don't see many of them. This is my third wild owl species (Barn Owl, Long-eared Owl and now Short-eared Owl) in about one year of birding.

Only took it up to get out the house for a bit of excersise, but its taking a grip.

I've now signed up for a bird course to help me on my way, but i have to admit things are slooowly sinking in. I think maybe cause the birds are coming in slowly, so it gives me a bit of time to work out what they are, where last year everything was already around so it was at bit confusing to say the least.

Next thing you know I'll be planning a birding holiday......