Angry Owl!

Since last weeks excellent encounter with the Short Eared Owl nothing much has been seen. I did however manage a half hour stint watching the resident pair of Little Owls at my site No 88 near to the village of Enderby. At this site seeing the birds is quite easy, but getting photo's of them is another matter. The nest tree has a mass of low hanging branches which makes the chances of getting a clear shot an awkward challenge. 

I was really lucky for a few minutes when the male owl sat out on a nice natural perch on the edge of the tree, in good light too! When the light levels are good it definitely highlight the details of the birds plumage much better, oh look at those talons!

The male owl did come a little closer but most of his body was obscured by a nearer branch. For this reason I cropped all the "mess" out of this next image and concentrated on just his head. He doesn't look very happy does he? 

I've also had the opportunity to visit several other of my known Little Owl sites, mating has been observed at two of them. At three other sites the male owl has been observed perched up in cover /ivy near to the nest tree. I have seen this type of behavior at this time of year on many occasions now, I'm pretty confident that the hen owls are now starting to lay their clutches of eggs and the male owl keeps out of her way but close by "keeping guard". 

So for the next 3-4 weeks activities at the Little Owl sites will be very low key indeed whilst egg incubation takes place. But once the eggs hatch the best time of year will be upon us and all the activity will begin in earnest.........can't wait!!!!

Catch up again soon..........