Owls & Eagles

[phil cheek]

On a beautiful late afternoon run round Shutt today I was lucky enough to see a short eared owl hunting across the tussocks between Shutt & Standing Stone.Hopefully this means the breeding pair are back for another year.
If you`re not familiar with these enigmatic birds that nest on the ground on the rough moorland(so Lilly & Scoobie need to be on leads up there for several months),they look huge,long broad wings,coasting slowly at low level across the tussocks looking for voles,or sitting on the fence posts.
It`s not difficult to see them in daylight,best early morning or late afternoon,particularly over the next few weeks when both birds will be hunting,& sometimes displaying.
I also saw an eagle,Ray,running down the road towards the Smithy....going slowly according to him,looked quick to me.
Phil

[geofpet1]

Phil - Pete R and me saw a short eared owl last summer on the track running from the cat n fiddle in a s. direction towards cumberland cutt - it was an amazing sight they have a large wingspan of maybe 3ft, i hd to look it up as couldnt work out what it was at first

[Mr Turnip]

Quite remarkable!!

[phil cheek]

Get yourselves up to the area between Shutt & Standing Stone early morning or late afternoon & you`ve every chance of seeing these enigmatic & beautiful birds.
The Eagle has only been seen on the road by the reservoirs!
Phil

[Mr Turnip]

"a short eared owl last summer on the track running from the cat n fiddle"

as I said earlier, "Quite remarkable". It isn't often that you see an owl with short ears, let alone the running variety. Must be some strong beer at the C & F.

[Julian Brown]

Is it just the ears that are short, or the whole owl ?

Most owls that I've seen aren't that tall, to be honest.

Or was it an ordinary owl out running whilst wearing shorts ??

And the owl Geoff saw apparently had 3 feet !!

We need David Attenborough I think. Or more turnip juice.

[geofpet1]

with 3 feet it was able to run down the track fast................

[Mr Turnip]

Give over Geoff, you're just talking daft now!