Site 108!!!

More checking for signs of Little Owl chicks last night, three more sites produced the goods.

Firstly, there was two out of the nest at site No 75 at Peatling Parva, again I located them by sitting quietly within the vicinity of the nest site and listening. After a twenty minute wait the characteristic "hissing" was heard and they were soon located in a nearby oak tree.

I did managed an image of both Juveniles but unfortunately only this one was usable.

The second location that came up trumps was site No 45 at Willoughby Waterleys. Sadly only one young bird was seen at this site....so far!! But the good news is this was the site that I dismissed at being productive this year as I saw a Weasel was seen coming out of the nest entrance a few weeks ago!

The final location that confirmed breeding success was site No 103 at Willoughby Waterleys, and this turned out to be quite a surprise! Previously I had only ever seen a single Little Owl at this site, again it was seen as I drove up the lane. It was sitting on a broken limb in a Weeping Ash (apparently this type of tree is quite rare!!) it sat motionless as I managed a few images, my best of this bird so far.

 

Just after I bumped into the local land owner (Dave) and we got talking "Little Owls". He had seen the local owls and he was sure there was a pair....and they had young!!!   After a refreshing beer and a tour of his nest boxes (thank you Dave) I was compelled to go back and investigate further. I drove back to the Weeping Ash tree and parked up, by now it was 10.30pm and dark, so seeing the owls was an almost impossibility. So it was a waiting and listening game, and I didn't have to wait long! Out of the silence came a hissing,  once my eyes had become adjusted to the darkness I was able to make out 3 Little Owl silhouettes up high in a tree, 2 adults and 1 juvenile, Dave was right, there was a pair and they had a youngster!!!!

During the evening search I also stopped off at few other sites where only adult birds were seen, I did managed this atmospheric image at site No 19, hopefully chicks here on my next visit? 

And finally, some more good news from last night, Little Owl site No 108 was located, a new site for me over at Gilmorton. He was located sitting in a Pear Tree but I wasn't ready and sadly no photo, that is until my next visit!!!!

As usual, double click on any image for a larger more detailed version.

Hungover Birding!

What a fantastic weekend weather wise, but surprise surprise not for owling!!! For the first weekend in ages I was preoccupied with other activities, namely following the famous Leicester City FC's push for promotion to the promised land of the premiership on Saturday, a 4-1 win and golfing Sunday morning, played rubbish but won nearest the pin!.

But..........in between all my other leisurely pursuits I did managed  to squeeze in a couple of hours owling! 

Very early Saturday morning  I decided to make a return visit to Willoughby Waterleys with my mate Daz  to check out site 103, a new site which was located last week. As both of us were suffering terrible hangovers from the alcohol abuse the night before any walking was totally out of the question, so today it was owling from the Land rover!!! 

A single bird was again located at site 103 , just too distant for good images but my first image of a bird from this site in the daylight.

Site 103, Willoughby - Lodge Farm

Next we drove a few hundred yards down the lane to see if the recently re-located owls were showing at site 45. After searching the trees we managed to located a bird high up in the suspect nest tree getting a bit of sun.

Site 45, Willoughby Waterleys - Willoughby Lodge Farm

Daz searching for the owls in a typical "morning after" pose!

 The lazy so and so.

We then drove around for a while checking out more of the local owls but not too much was seen due to our refusal to get out of the land rover and walk.........oooohh our throbbing heads, we vowed never  to drink again........yeah righto!! 

Late Sunday afternoon after the golf I again  popped out for a couple of hours, whilst driving through the lanes over near Peatling Magna I spotted an owl sitting in a roadside tree. Due to the fact that site 58 was only a couple of hundred yards down the road I presumed it was from there?

Site 58, Peatling Magna - Lower Brookhill Farm???????

However, when it re-located onto a more distant fence post I started to have second thoughts. This bird had quite a distinctive large white patch on its left shoulder, I had never noticed this on either of the birds at this site before, or for that matter on any other owls .

Mystery bird - White Shoulder

Could this unusually marked bird be one I hadn't seen before and a new site? Maybe one of the juveniles from last years success at site 58? Needless to say I will be spending some time at this location to try and unravel the mystery.

Excellent Night!

Had to get out this evening and make the most of the glorious evening sun, and boy what a memorable evening it turned out to be!

Firstly a trip over to Barwell to check out one of my boxes and although I didn't see an owl go into the box it was hanging around pretty close (image below) dare I suggest near enough is good enough??......no of course not!!

Site 42, Kirkby Mallory - Brockey Farm Site A

My second stop was at Sapcote, I wasn't holding out much hope to see anything at this site as my last sighting was back in the autumn of 2009! I feared the worst and that the bad winter had taken its toll, and then I saw him, looks like we have a survivor after all. Not the best of images but one I was really pleased to be able to take.

Site 49, Sapcote - Glebe Farm Site B

Next was site 75 over at Peatling Parva, this location has become a bit of a regularity just recently, only one bird showing again which now indicates the female is sitting tight on her eggs. In comparison with all the other hundreds of little owls I have encountered, it is quite incredible how confiding this male bird is. He really wasn't bothered about my presence as can be seen here he was more interested in finishing his beetle!

Site 75, Peatling Parva - Preistlands.

Not far from site 75 is site 58, here both birds were out, the first (image below) was sitting in the nest tree not too far from my box, the second bird was 50 mts or so along the hedgerow hunting. Obviously no egg laying yet otherwise the hen bird would be tucked away doing her incubation duties. 

Site 58, Peatling Magna - Lower Brookhill Farm.

It was now time to check out another box at site 45, this was another site where I hadn't made any sightings this year. Judging on how well the evening was going I was hopeful of an owl showing. My patience paid off as I spotted the bachelor bird and guess what? He had another bird with him!!! Can the night get any better?

Next the new pair put on a very fine mating show with plenty of squeaking, squawking and wing flapping. Maybe the nest box at this site will get some use after all?

Just as I was departing they came over towards me (maybe for a closer look) and sat staring from a trailer and fence that the farmer had left out.

Site 45, Willoughby - Willoughby Lodge Farm.

Being really pleased with the evenings events and the light was fading fast it was time to make tracks home. I was reflecting on the nights events when suddenly I spotted what I thought was a little owl, it was in a location where I hadn't seen one before and only a couple of hundred metres from the last site!! No it couldn't be.......could it? I pulled up, opened the window and waited. Oh my god it was then confirmed, sitting on top of a telegraph pole calling out was a little owl......RESULT.....get in there site 103!!!!.

Although nearly dark there was just enough light for a record shot (below).

What I thought was a great night suddenly turned into an excellent night! 

NEW Site 103,  Willoughby - Lodge Farm