StevieEvans
Well-known member
2nd October '03
Co. Durham, N.E. England, UK.
A calm, fine evening at a regular Leo. breeding site.
At dusk a single Long eared Owl , silently left its thorn thicket to begin to hunt, quickly being lost to view. After another brief glimpse of it flying, a Tawny Owl Strix aluco, began to call from an adjoining area of scrub & young trees. (approx 75m away)
After the Tawny had called intermitantly for 2-3 mins, the wingclapping display of the Leo could be heard, initially 2 claps.
The Tawny fell silent, as its neighbour continued to display over & around this years breeding thicket, about 4m above the tops of the trees & scrub. The number of 'claps' never exceded 3 in succession, with several singles: the total counted being 16, over 3-4 mins.
The flying ceased & all was quiet. The Leo didnt call once.
After a few more mins of no activity, the Leo then came in high from a southerly direction, its manner of flight was totaly new to me.
The bird was flying about 10-12m above the ground, with a stiff winged, very rapid 'whirring' motion, (which reminded me of the way shearwaters fly), the tips of the wings only moving up & down very slightly (in complete contrast to the full slow beats only just observed).
The owl covered ground quickly, gaining height, but still propelling itself with this 'abnormal flight action' & was approx 150m away when the Tawny let out a loud call, at this, the Leo imediately banked through 180 degrees returning to its normal flight back toward the nesting area.
On approach it gave 2 more single wing claps, before disappearing. All was quiet for a full 6 mins, when i saw the bird flying along the trackway towards me, it was only half light & the bird melted away into the background passing within 4-5m of me.
I waited 10 mins longer, but there was no further activity or calling, before i left.
(I have presumed that the flying bird was the Same male on all interactions. In the past i have seen 2 males wingclap over the female while she called from the nest, along with female winclapping. (DifferentLocation))
*I was intruiged to see display at this time of year, & think it was set off by the neighbouring Tawny, a rival species.
*The flight action of the bird was new to me, ive watched up to 10 or more pairs at breeding sites for over 10 years now.
Any comments would be welcome
(The only Ref. book ive got is Owls of Europe - H.Mikkola)
Steve.
Co. Durham, N.E. England, UK.
A calm, fine evening at a regular Leo. breeding site.
At dusk a single Long eared Owl , silently left its thorn thicket to begin to hunt, quickly being lost to view. After another brief glimpse of it flying, a Tawny Owl Strix aluco, began to call from an adjoining area of scrub & young trees. (approx 75m away)
After the Tawny had called intermitantly for 2-3 mins, the wingclapping display of the Leo could be heard, initially 2 claps.
The Tawny fell silent, as its neighbour continued to display over & around this years breeding thicket, about 4m above the tops of the trees & scrub. The number of 'claps' never exceded 3 in succession, with several singles: the total counted being 16, over 3-4 mins.
The flying ceased & all was quiet. The Leo didnt call once.
After a few more mins of no activity, the Leo then came in high from a southerly direction, its manner of flight was totaly new to me.
The bird was flying about 10-12m above the ground, with a stiff winged, very rapid 'whirring' motion, (which reminded me of the way shearwaters fly), the tips of the wings only moving up & down very slightly (in complete contrast to the full slow beats only just observed).
The owl covered ground quickly, gaining height, but still propelling itself with this 'abnormal flight action' & was approx 150m away when the Tawny let out a loud call, at this, the Leo imediately banked through 180 degrees returning to its normal flight back toward the nesting area.
On approach it gave 2 more single wing claps, before disappearing. All was quiet for a full 6 mins, when i saw the bird flying along the trackway towards me, it was only half light & the bird melted away into the background passing within 4-5m of me.
I waited 10 mins longer, but there was no further activity or calling, before i left.
(I have presumed that the flying bird was the Same male on all interactions. In the past i have seen 2 males wingclap over the female while she called from the nest, along with female winclapping. (DifferentLocation))
*I was intruiged to see display at this time of year, & think it was set off by the neighbouring Tawny, a rival species.
*The flight action of the bird was new to me, ive watched up to 10 or more pairs at breeding sites for over 10 years now.
Any comments would be welcome
(The only Ref. book ive got is Owls of Europe - H.Mikkola)
Steve.