Snowy Owl

On Saturday morning Leicestershire was covered with an inch or so of overnight snow and the sun was shining, I'd been waiting for conditions like this for ages. It was now time to put my plan into action, Little Owl images in the snow, something I'd never previously managed and the excellent light levels should make for some great stuff.

I visited all the usual suspect sites where owls could be watched and photographed without the need to get out of the car, yep it was going to be a lazy day and I wanted to stay in the relative warmth! However things weren't going quite to plan, it was the same story at every site.....no owls!!! 

After exhausting all the known "easy" sites I'd resigned myself to the fact that in order to get the images I wanted I'd got to get my fat ass out of the Landrover and walk! This was bad on two counts, firstly it was bitter cold and the biting wind obviously made it feel even worse and  secondly, to get near to owls on foot for close up images is terribly difficult. 

It was only a short walk at site No 1 and it paid off when an owl was finally located, tight up to the main trunk sheltering owl of the wind. Considering it was a hand held shot the final results weren't too bad, very autumnal but no snow!  

The next site where an owl was located was site No 77, normally I can drive my landrover over the fields and up to the nest tree here but due to the fact the farmer had moved some cattle in I'd got to brave the elements and walk. I was rewarded for my efforts when the second owl of the morning was located, again some handheld shots but at least this time there was snow in the image, albeit a small amount! 

I pushed for a better image and got closer, the owl seemed reluctant to fly and just moved behind the snow covered main tree trunk, not really the snowy image I was after but the best I could managed before he got fed up with me and flew off!

An owl was also located at site No 97, this owl was a bit more alert than the previous and this was as close as I got before he disapeared!

During the search I checked out some potential new sites around the village of Hallaton, a fantastic area that I'd not been to before, a hugh area of remote open countryside with a scattering of mature "holey" trees that just oozes Little Owl! Luck would have it that eventually a new site was located, I was checking out a likely tree when this little chap appeared! I think the noise of the engine running disturbed him, I did managed this one "shaky" distant image from the car before it flew off.

New site No 136.

I checked the tree out and on the southern side I found the nest hole, it was bathed in full sun and I suspect that was where he was before my abrupt intervention disturbed him. I was going to stake it out and hope for his return and the chance of some better images but the wimp in me decided it was too cold and that could wait for another day!.......

Chilled out owls.

Owl 'n' about again tonight catching up with a few sites that I haven't visited for a while, first stop was site No 6 at Peckleton, a pair were out here and showed well in good light, sadly too distant for good images but it was great to watch them as they went about business looking for grub.

Site No 6, owl No 1 

Site No 6, owl No 2 

A single owl showed well at site No 1, it did absolutely nothing but sit and stare me out, how bizarre!! 

At site No 32 things got very interesting with some super close up views of the resident pair, the first bird to show kept partially hidden behind the main tree trunk, the cheeky little chap! 

Then a second owl showed, this bird emerged from the nest cavity and just sat there staring, it was if it was totally mesmerised by my presence.

It then popped out of the hole and sat on the edge, totally chilled out. What a privilege to be so close, the light could have been better but I wasn't going to waste such a fantastic photo opportunity, I was really pleased with how this image turned out.

The final site of the night near to Peatling Parva didn't offer very good photo opportunities due to the distance involved, hey but who cares when it is another new site! Yes that's right, site No 127!!!!!! I was checking out a very "owly" wind damaged Willow tree and I couldn't believe my luck when I spotted a pair sitting together low down in quite a large hole, the image only shows 1 bird though as by the time I had grabbed the camera 1 had flown off!

 A distant image of the new site/owl.

It's good news for this site though, I introduced myself to the local land owners and they were very hospitable and permission was granted for me to return and hopefully get some better images.......watch this space!

Wind in the Willows

Got my daily owl fix this morning before work had even started, I was making my way cross country (to avoid all the traffic) out towards Rutland. I decided to make a slight detour to hopefully get a glimpse of any resident owls that may be showing at the first little owl site I ever found. Although a little distant for good images a single bird was out on one of its usual perches catching some early morning sun.

Site 1, Carlton Curlieu - Marks Plantation.

On my return journey I decided to catch up with a relatively new site over at Burrough Hill that I located a few weeks ago. Now I wasn't very hopeful of any sightings as this morning’s glorious sunshine had been replace with drizzle and driving winds (and we all now know little owls don't like the wind!). Anyhow, shows how much I know because almost as soon as I had arrived I located a single bird in a willow tree, albeit it was sheltering out of the elements. It then flew over to the nearby ash tree where it settled down tight up against the main trunk  Hang on a minute.............that single bird has company!!! This was only my third visit to this site and already confirmation of a pair.....result!!

Another pair for the records.

Site 95, Borrough Hill - Court Farm

Just as I was about to pull off one of the owls came over for a closer look, a nosey little so and so (must be the hen bird!!!) although it was nearly dark, windy and still raining I was able to managed this image, the best from this site so far. It was a shame but she didn't hang around long though, this was due to the farmer spooking her as he drove by in his tractor, but the good news was I gained permission from him to set up my hide in the field near the potential nest tree so fingers crossed some much better images to come?

Crazy night 2

Last night I managed to see owls at 7 out of 8 local sites that I visited, a really good return and the most owls I have seen in such a short space of time. I decided to go for it again tonight to see if lightning would strike twice? I decided that none of last night’s sites would be re-visited so some planning was required; I needed to be smart and plan a route that would allow me to visit as many sites as possible before the light goes.

First up was the two sites just north of Countesthorpe, Rose Farm site A & B, both produced birds in no time at all but only site B allowed a photo (below), sitting at its nest entrance sunning itself.

Site 39, Countesthorpe - Rose Farm site B

Next stop was Wayside Farm at Kilby Bridge; after 30 seconds of arriving a single little owl was spotted sunning itself in a nearby ash tree, due to the fact that the sun was shining at me from behind the bird only a silhouette could be seen no photo was possible!

Pushing on the next planned stop was my new site over at Wistow, upon arrival I parked next to what I believe will be this summer’s nest tree and bingo!!!! A single bird was perched high above me and the same as the previously seen birds of today, it was making the most of the low evening sun. Don't know if you agree but this little chap seems to have a real angry look about him!

Site 97, Wistow - Wain Bridge (NO NOT THE JOHN TERRY WAYNE BRIDGE!!)

Things were looking good, a 100% success rate at four sites in only 30 minutes, the next site could spoil all that though, my last few visits had drew blanks and I was wondering if the birds had moved on? All my fears were soon dismissed as soon as I pulled up, a single bird was sitting on top of a sawn off tree trunk getting some sun..........result!!!

                                        

Site 1, Carlton Curlieu - Marks Plantation

The sun was now starting to set and the light fading fast, I had to move on to the next site pretty sharpish otherwise yesterdays target would not be beaten. After 5 minutes of driving I pulled up at the next site and nothing!!!! Through desperation I tried playing my little owl contact call on my mobile phone and almost instantly there was an inquiring pair of heads at the nest entrance.

Site 19, Fleckney - Lyndon Lodge Farm

My favourite site was the next on the route, and true to form no time was wasted here as "scabby" was waiting for me on one of his posts. A 30 second pit stop (photo) and I was off again to the next site.

Site 16, Arnesby - Newstead Farm

Next stop was site 53 back at Countesthorpe, a single bird was seen sitting on top of a pollard willow but unfortunately it was too distant for any images! Due to how dark it was now getting I had time for one more site and what better than the morphing owl site (see post 6th Jan 2010). Upon arrival I was expecting to see an owl of some type sitting at the hole entrance but nothing? I sat and waited for 20 minutes until it was only just possible to see but no owl, I think I must have missed it by seconds!!

To sum up it was another great night for little owl viewing, I believe the settled weather and the evening sun was the recipe for them to be dripping out of the trees...........8 out of 9 aint bad!!!