[Mike D]

I may be repeating a thread here, but I've searched and can't find anything about it.
A non-birding friend has told me that he saw a TV programme the other night which showed footage of a British owl (type unknown) catching a fish. This behaviour was not previously known about.

Anyone else see this?

[seb_seb]

Twas the five-owls farm program? I think i saw a fishing Tawny on that. Can anyone confirm?

[Mike D]

Originally Posted by seb_seb

Twas the five-owls farm program? I think i saw a fishing Tawny on that. Can anyone confirm?

Hi Seb_Seb,
My friend has confirmed it was this programme.

[DaveN]

Five owls farm was a fantastic programme, and the footage of the Tawny owl fishing was quite amazing. Something I'd not heard of before....never mind seen.

Billy Boy

[Jane Turner]

Yes it was a Tawny.... I had A Short-eared Owl eating a Redshank on my lawn one night! I think Owls are pretty good at exploiting food sources.
It was a very shallow stream by the way. The owl landed on the stream bed....it wasn't plunge diving!

[Mike D]

Originally Posted by Jane Turner

Yes it was a Tawny.... I had A Short-eared Owl eating a Redshank on my lawn one night! I think Owls are pretty good at exploiting food sources.
It was a very shallow stream by the way. The owl landed on the stream bed....it wasn't plunge diving!

Thanks for the info all. Where is Five Owls Farm?

Jane - your reply settles a discussion I had with my friend regarding the owl compensating for the refractive index of the water.

I'm just kicking myself that I missed the programme, but I had other things to do. What the H**L can be that important? Why didn't I video it?

BTW - if some kind soul did video it I would be most grateful for look, tape returned afterwards, of course. Please PM me if you would't mind lending it. TIA
Mike

[Ivan]

Hi All
I have had a Tawny plunging into my pond and catching frogs. It was just getting dusk and I was sat in my study watching the owl as it sat on the linen post. It was intent on studying the pond and it suddenly dropped, splashed into a shallow section of said pond and emerged with a frog struggling in it's beak. I could not see the moment of impact so I do not know if the frog was caught with talons or beak. To say I was surprised was an understatement.

Ivan

[nirofo]

An obsevation of Tawny Owl eating Dace from a weir pool next to it's nesting wood was included in the Sorby Natural History Societies record for 1966 or 67. Several pellets were disected, analysed and proved to be nothing but fish remains. On another occasion Trout remains were found on an old Hoodie Crow nest being used by a Tawny Owl with young, nearby pellets contained fish scales and bones.

[Jane Turner]

Someone better tell David Attenborough then....though I he might have said first recorded as in captured on film rather than first ever instance.

[LuBird]

Mike D, I am going to hunt on the Internet to see if it is out there somewhere because I would like a copy too. If I find it,I will let you know here.

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by Mike D

BTW - if some kind soul did video it I would be most grateful for look, tape returned afterwards, of course. Please PM me if you would't mind lending it.

Just checked my tape library and unfortunately it has been taped over. Sorry.

[Mike D]

Hi LuBird,
Thanks very much, much appreciated.

[Alastair Rae]

Originally Posted by Jane Turner

Someone better tell David Attenborough then....though I he might have said first recorded as in captured on film rather than first ever instance.

I think the wording on the five owls programme was something like "the first time this species [tawny] has been caught doing it".

[jayhunter]

Sounds like a super programme that I missed, but did have a very busy Xmas and New Year with all the family visiting! Did get out for one day and walked round Fernilee Reservoir only saw one Cormorant, but it was bitterly cold.

[cjay]

I have seen tawny Owls visit the shallows of fishing lakes at Dusk to catch small fish fry & have seen them catching Tadpoles too.

CJ