Three Go Mad For Long-Eared Owls
Up in a secret location where BF's NoIdea knows, where moors meet wood and Curlews cry, JB, NoIdea and I went to see if Long-eared owls would show. Did they? Oh, did they!
As we reached the spot and began to make our way to a suitable lookout, a passerby asked what we were looking for. "Sheep" I said. You can't be too careful. As we set out the young's calls were already obvious.
Within seconds the first adult (in broad daylight) began to hunt, approaching close as it floated past. Result. Within minutes it was back with a vole - flying to the wood where it passed the prey to one of the hungry youngsters.
Soon it was out across the field again - heading straight at us as NoIdea's camera's motordrive whirred away. The same circuit again - the same result: one more vole returned to squealing young, hidden in the trees.
Next the other of the pair - subtle differences in patterns and colours distinguishing them - flew out to hunt. On several occasions one would perch on the trees in front of our position and peer intently at the ground nearest, sometimes flying out and pouncing, before continuing off to hunt.
On the horizon a Kestrel hovered. As we watched another dived at it on a diagonal and slammed it from above - then gave chase: one intruding male seen off by both residents. Skylarks continued to sing under grey clouds, buffeted by unsteady breezes.
Long-eared owls kept on astonishing us with their frequency and confidence as the setting sun struggled to free itself from the greys: appearing as it disappeared: hovering on the horizon to coax colours from owls' wings. Six voles had been delivered to squeaking young: one now came out to show itself at the wood edge - eating a meal in full view.
We changed position to hope for better photos. The owls kept delivering views - sometimes hovering into the wind. Then a third adult obliged by coming close! As a finale a vole was caught nearby and stashed in an ancient stone wall, as a Curlew watched and circled, calling above the owl on the wall.
JB & I returned to Cheshire more than pleased with our evening's foray to wilder parts and an abundance of LEOs. Thanks, Paul.
