Simply Owls

Owls Owls Owls !!! Yes as you probably gather I simply love spending time observing, photographing and filming Owls, I consider myself to be very fortunate to be in such a privileged position to have access to all the five uk species of Owls pretty much on my doorstep.

Over the last week or so I’ve managed to spend a little time with four of them as in that superbly characteristic Little Owl that can give you a death stare that only a little owl can give, really love these guy’s and at present I’m observing two pairs local to me but unfortunately no chicks yet which is a little concerning because this time last year I was filming chicks !!! But hopefully and fingers crossed, like many other species they are a little late this year due to the cold spring.

Then there’s the majestic Short Eared Owl of which I have to say is probably my second favourite Owl of the five species we have here in the uk, that I’m very lucky to be able to photograph all year round be that upon the moors which is my favourite place to see these birds simply because of the stunning terrain or on the lowlands and marshlands in the depths of winter.

We also have that traditional English countryside owl the Barn Owl or the white ghost that it’s sometimes referred to due to its appearance on those Misty mornings with not a breath of wind and suddenly in the distance the appearance of this apparition quartering his/ her territory in complete silence, a truly mystical scene.

Then we have my favourite of all the Owls and without doubt our prettiest species of owl here in the uk, that is for the most part nocturnal unless feeding chicks the beautiful Long Eared Owl. What an absolutely stunning bird they are and very often mistaken for the Short Eared Owl when seen in the daytime on the wing hunting as they are very similar in both flight and plumage however it’s the eyes that are the key identifying feature with the Short Eared Owl having those piercing bright almost searchlight eyes, where as the Long Eared Owl has those gorgeous deep orange eyes but what a bird !!!!

At the moment as I write this piece on my latest adventures in the great British countryside life is moving pretty quickly now in the animal kingdom and as new families are being raised it will soon be time for all those summer visitors that arrived to depart and for that next chapter to begin with the arrival of our over wintering species, yes I’m already yearning for the Autumn and the great skeins of geese that fill our skies arriving from Scandinavia and afar followed by the onset of winter and all the beauty of a winter landscape covered in a giant quilt of snow and all the challenges it brings because that is the beauty of the great British countryside, I love it.