Friday, February 27, 2015

Stumpy lugs and Barnie....


An afternoon at Warkworth watching three Short-eared Owls on the dunes. Always flighty, they were still nice to see having become ever more scarce in recent years. 






  

On the way back to the car park at dusk a poor Barn Owl was being kleptoparasitised ( I think?)  by a Carrion Crow, determined to take its vole...







7 comments:

Johnnykinson said...

While watching Shorties at Prestwick Carr this late p.m. i was telling a few people of a Kestrel at the Rising Sun a couple of years ago that was regularly harrassing and robbing the couple of Shorties that were there that year. Klepto something or other it was called i said. Couldn't remember the full word, i said. Klepto, as in stealing. Thank you for this post. I must remember the word. It's quite easy really. Klepto.....parasitism. I don't think you can beat a hunting owl in flight for a birding moment. Well Long-eared, Short-eared and Barn as i haven't seen Little or Tawny hunting. Fa bu lous sight. First Shorties of the year for me making the full 5 UK species this year. I left with a big big smile of my face.

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

It's action shots like that that are so impressive

Glasgow Birder said...

Banging set of shots there mate

Amanda Peters said...

Stunning photos, a joy to see.
Amanda xx

abbey meadows said...

Nice post Stew, No Owls in the expected areas down here as yet. Like the header. Plenty in flower at Widdrington tip but without the insects.

Stewart said...

Cheers all...

Anonymous said...

Those owl pics are brill - could not believe that crow!

Christine x