Recently a Short-eared Owl has taken up residence
at North Duffield Carrs, showing well and hunting at close range in the field
behind the car park - one of the few dry grassy areas left above the
floodline. The local small mammal population has been concentrated into
the few remaining areas, so it was no surprise that the owl appeared to be
hunting quite successfully. At the weekend an individual was also found at Thornton, roosting in a large Oak tree. Short-eared Owls are a medium
sized largely brown owl, although they appear to be quite long winged as they
quarter their hunting sites with a rather buoyant flight – seen well they appear
stunning with their bright yellow eyes and piercing gaze, as pictured here
Large numbers of SEO’s can reach the UK in autumn as birds
move out of Iceland and Europe to avoid the colder weather, many were seen last
autumn arriving on the Yorkshire coast at Spurn Point, Flamborough and Filey
during October. Many of these birds will now have moved further inland to
winter before heading back again to their breeding sites in spring. Many thanks
to local photographer Stephen Jones who supplied us with following images of the NDC bird hunting over the field adjacent to the car park.
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