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Post by kentyeti on Oct 28, 2015 17:54:17 GMT
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Post by NellyDee on Oct 28, 2015 17:56:56 GMT
Don't know if you get Scottish news but short eared owl airlifted by helicopter from oil rig. The exhausted bird was then taken tomSPCA's rescue centre at Fishcross, where it is recovering.
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Post by kentyeti on Oct 28, 2015 19:00:56 GMT
Don't know if you get Scottish news but short eared owl airlifted by helicopter from oil rig. The exhausted bird was then taken to SPCA's rescue centre at Fishcross, where it is recovering. I refer the right honourable gentleman to the answer I gave two minutes before you posted that! LOL.
Yes, you must have posted just as I did.
But many thanks indeed as I could have missed it.
It's been on Radio 2 News today. Lovely story. Do hope the rescue centre can get it to take food.
If it is reluctant to take food I wonder if they know to hold it and approach from behind and dangle a mouse or day old chick in front just touching the bristles around it's bill. That could trigger an instinctive reaction by the Owl when it feels the prey item.
Cheers,
Bryan
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Post by kentyeti on Oct 28, 2015 19:15:47 GMT
I have emailed that thought to the SPCA. Adding that they must have a vast amount of experience in feeding wild creatures and that I have none whatsoever! LOL. Just something I've picked up in my endless research re Owlets etc. That is when I'm not out doing field work/observations. Over 3,850 hours of that now.
My name will probably be added to their "stupid old fools" list now!
Cheers,
Bryan
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Post by NellyDee on Oct 29, 2015 9:41:28 GMT
Oh I doubt it Bryan. That is if they every answer you! Hopefully they do take on board suggestions on care.
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Post by aeshna5 on Oct 29, 2015 17:42:50 GMT
An amazing 8 reported at Rainham Marshes RSPB yesterday + still at least 4 today.
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Post by kentyeti on Nov 2, 2015 20:32:24 GMT
An amazing 8 reported at Rainham Marshes RSPB yesterday + still at least 4 today. Nice one! I wonder where they will end up for the winter.
Just back from a trip North to Langholm Moor and to the Northumberland location I also did some breeding season work this year. Seems strange I should go where the Shorties have all now left for the winter while so many others are all around the country! But I monitored dispersal last year and got a wealth of information and needed to keep that going to finalise my field notes for this years breeding season up there. As far as I can see from this recent trip, and using very helpful information from those watching and/or working on those Moors, it does look like none have stayed to over winter as a few did on Langholm last year. Did get a glimpse of a Tawny, a long spell close up with a Long-eared Owl and plenty of Barn Owls to watch too, all at various locations up there. And all at night.
Need some rest now and to catch up on sleep.
Cheers,
Bryan
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Post by jonathan on Nov 4, 2015 16:15:58 GMT
Have a look on the North Sea Bird Club Facebook page Bryan, a few interesting images of both SE and LE owls on oil rigs at the moment.
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Post by kentyeti on Nov 4, 2015 20:31:36 GMT
Many thanks Jonathan, some interesting photos and reading there.
The frequency of reports of sightings throughout Britain are still increasing. Indeed I can't keep up with them at present!
Had a few hours at Oare Marshes in North Kent today: a regular visit with a good friend and neighbour. Lots of Marsh Harrier and Buzzard activity seen, mainly over on Sheppey, but the Shorties in the area hadn't come out before dusk. Cheers,
Bryan
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Post by kentyeti on Nov 9, 2015 9:17:18 GMT
More reports of Shorties around the country than I can keep up with!
Spoke to someone at Shellness who was in Finland earlier this year and yes, it was indeed the peak of the vole and lemming cycle as expected. And as obvious from the very large numbers that have come here so far.
The small roost at Shellness on Sheppey still there but no signs yet I can pick up that it has built from 3 Owls. Only seen them coming out as it got fully dark recently: I'll do some early mornings soon to see if they are early morning Owls too. Windy weather may be impacting on their active times: although of course as an Owl of open moor and wide open marshland and Fens they are perfectly capable of hunting successfully in strong winds. But only when they want to! Much easier and a lot less effort to wait for the winds to ease. Especially out of the breeding season when they only have themselves to feed.
About 17 minutes into yesterdays CountryFile has a few seconds of Shortie action on the Cambridgeshire Fens. Lovely.
Jonathan will know more about this than me, but it looks like the Dee Estuary, (near Liverpool), has good numbers at present.
Cheers,
Bryan
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Post by jonathan on Nov 9, 2015 18:35:15 GMT
Jonathan will know more about this than me, but it looks like the Dee Estuary, (near Liverpool), has good numbers at present.
Cheers,
Bryan It has Bryan, it's not an exceptional year yet but there are decent numbers around. Unfortunately the weather was appalling most of the weekend so sightings were at a premium, though we did have four off Denhall Quay, Neston on Saturday afternoon. One of the owls appeared to have a damaged eye, it could open it but I noticed the owl kept it closed most of the time when it was perched up. Last week Colin, the RSPB warden, had six owls out from Denhall Lane, we had a similar number off Decca Pools half a mile further north (some birds would be duplicates) at the same time, if these numbers were duplicated along the length of the marsh there's probably 20+ owls between Burton Marsh in the south to Banks Road at Gayton in the north, maybe more. The RSPB have now opened up Burton Point to visitors. As it's high ground it gives an incredible view of the marsh. In the afternoon it can be a great place to watch them, though you really need a scope. I watched them interacting with both Marsh and Hen harriers from there a couple of weeks ago. Next high tides are: 26th November, 10.57hrs (GMT), 9.8m. 27th November, 11.41hrs (GMT), 9.8m. Not particularly high, but with decent NW-W winds, water in the river and low pressure, it could flood the marsh.
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Post by kentyeti on Nov 9, 2015 20:02:44 GMT
Thanks for that Jonathan.
And yes, I have already made provisional plans to come North for the November Spring tides, subject to low pressure and the winds you mention. Fingers crossed.
It's great getting reports of these superb Owls. Had one this evening from a kindly person working on a ship off the West African coast. Owl flew by then roosted on the ship. Like they do.
I suspect it was flying down the African coast to an over wintering location. Rather than having flown over the Atlantic!
Thanks again,
Bryan
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Post by htcdude on Nov 10, 2015 14:52:45 GMT
Had a nice surprise with a Short-eared Owl flying upriver this lunchtime at the River Severn Nige
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Post by kentyeti on Nov 10, 2015 14:59:38 GMT
Had a nice surprise with a Short-eared Owl flying upriver this lunchtime at the River Severn Nige They usually over winter both sides of the Severn down near the two Motorways bridges. I've been picking up reports from Aust Wharf, Severn Beach and Rumney Great Wharf. Could have been one of those depending on how far up the river you saw one.
But what a lovely creature to see at lunchtime!
Cheers,
Bryan
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Post by htcdude on Nov 11, 2015 15:08:09 GMT
Had a nice surprise with a Short-eared Owl flying upriver this lunchtime at the River Severn Nige They usually over winter both sides of the Severn down near the two Motorways bridges. I've been picking up reports from Aust Wharf, Severn Beach and Rumney Great Wharf. Could have been one of those depending on how far up the river you saw one.
But what a lovely creature to see at lunchtime!
Cheers,
Bryan
I've seen them up at Aust before, this one was a bit further down river on the south side of both bridges. Nige
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