Posted by Vincent Jones on October 27, 2008 at 2:14 PM
Taken this morning after eventually finding its daytime roost.
This is an Eagle Owl that has been flying wild around our Centre since the 24th August 2008. The Owl is very active during the evenings & causes kaos with our birds when it enters the aviary area. Is it a wild one or an escapee?
It isn't one of ours & its's not wearing anklets or jesses or even a leg ring. Looking through a spotting scope today I could see that the legs are that of a wild Owl, completely natural & untouched by humans.
Just thought it would be good to share this. As for cloning I think I will pass on this shot
Thanks for looking
D2X
200mm F2 VR
ISO 100
F2.8
1/500th sec
Hand held
Posted by Matt Doggett on October 27, 2008 at 2:18 PM
There are reports that they have returned to the UK from mainland Europe in the past few years though I thnk there is some debate as to whether most sitings are from escapees or illegally reintroduced - have to check the facts. Often when their whereabouts is known it is kept fairly secret as they suffer quite massive persecution. I thnk a breeding pair were killed a year or two back somewhere in Yorkshire when locals found out where they roosted. they are quite fearsome predators - apparently they can easily take out a buzzard! I would love to see one - you're quite lucky!!
Cheers
Matt
Posted by Vincent Jones on October 27, 2008 at 2:21 PM
Lucky
What at a Barn Owl Centre
I do work with them but these ones are (c) bred. These tend to come back so I can help to keep the local wildlife safe & the Barn Owls I also fly
Need a beer
Cheers Matt
Question: Who would fly a trained Barn Owl free knowing that there is an Eagle Owl loose in the vacinity? Its great anywhere else, but as people say, not on my door step lol
Posted by Rob Howard on October 27, 2008 at 2:28 PM
Hi Vince,
Not sure what to say Looks like it's planning on sticking about if it's been there since August. Hopefully it won't "tag" one of your birds. Hopefully the local bunny population is sustaining it.
Thanks for sharing
Regards
Rob
Posted by Peter Cairns on October 27, 2008 at 2:31 PM
Vincent
If you manage to get a clean shot of the legs showing 'natural feathering', would suggest you send image to Steve Dudley at BOU and/or Graham Madge at RSPB. Because of potential conflict with other 'rare' species, both organisations reluctant to encourage the idea of natural colonisation as opposed to escapee status. Interesting!
Pete
Posted by Vincent Jones on October 27, 2008 at 2:38 PM
Hi Peter,
If you want to contact them on my behalf you are more than welcome, at the moment it is controlling more or less everything we try to do at our Centre & I need to get the Centre more operational to bring the funds in. I am in two minds especially as I can call it in at night by hooting at it in darkness. the damn thing calls back at me lol. I think I have pulled
Posted by Vincent Jones on October 27, 2008 at 3:57 PM
Right, here's a quick update. I have now set the outer doors as traps using the double door system on the Eagle Owl Aviaries, last 2 nights I had him sat on the door step, fingers crossed he will enter & I will pull the door closed behind him Something like that anyway. All this will happen from the office as I have a tied a number of thin ropes to a number of doors, this will act as closures, I just hope I pull the right rope. All CCTV cameras are pointing at all locations so i can monitor the situation from my desk, big brownie points for being mad. Health & safety would have a field day looking at the way I have set this up lol.
I am going to attempt to capture him because he still might be an escapee even though he's not wearing a captive ID. What might be hidden is a microchip, this is what I am hoping for as it is a legal requirement to have some form of perminant ID.if captive bred. There again it might be an escaped bird from a domestic garden, who knows. The hooting is not natural if it is wild & it will allow me to get very close both day & night.
My life is very complicated at the moment & I am starting to loose my marbles
Looks like another long night
By the way he is sat on a pole as I type, hooting his head off. Wild or captive bred?
I wish I had the web cams working, I could of gone live with this
Posted by Rob Howard on October 27, 2008 at 4:13 PM
Hi Vince,
IMO if it's hooting so much and coming virtually into your aviary, then surely it's captive bred, otherwise I reckon it would give you a wide berth, reckon it's shouting at you for food, although it is obviously able to fend for itself as well.
Good luck for the sake of your Owl's (localand captive) this gets sorted
Rob
Rob
Posted by Vincent Jones on October 27, 2008 at 4:23 PM
Cheers Rob He is now sat in an Oak at the moment close on the border of our flying area, this is surrounded by 10 acres of rough grass & this is where the wild Barn Owls on site hunt over. I haven't seen them for months nor have I heard the Tawny Owls calling from the trees? The Little Owls are still here though & so are the Kestrels & Buzzards. Loads of Rabbits but none about tonight which seems to be norm when he's about.
Just popping back out to keep him vocal, this helps to alert Rabbits I think & might keep him hungry so he comes in quicker.
Back soon.
Posted by Vincent Jones on October 27, 2008 at 4:35 PM
Here is a shot taken at night as the Owl flew into the darkness, well from an area that was darkish anyway. Note the legs with no marks, the legs I saw very close today as it stretched, this was both of them. Definately natural.
Not the best of images.
Posted by Vincent Jones on October 27, 2008 at 4:40 PM
Here's one as he sat on one of the security cameras above the aviary area.
Please delete if I have posted to many images. Last one, not unless i catch him.
Posted by Rob Howard on October 27, 2008 at 4:46 PM
Hi Vince,
Do you think a wild Eagle Owl would be this confiding?? I'm not an expert, I know wild Barn Owl and Tawnies will sit while you can take images of them.
Why is it hanging around the avaries?? Is it because it knows that there is a meal there or the fact that it is used to seeing avaries and other birds?? How possible would it be, for the owner not to be able to tend for it any longer and cut/remove jesses/rings??? before setting it free and would the legs feathers regrow after a moult??
Intriguing stuff!
Rob
Posted by Vincent Jones on October 27, 2008 at 5:00 PM
Hi Rob,
Having not worked with wild Eagle Owls before only captive & escapees for which I have helped to re-capture, getting Eagle Owls (c) to call back I have found quite easy, for a wild one I can't give you an answer. Personally I would say yes because they do show a similar behaviour pattern to Tawnies if a call was made.
Hanging around the aviaries & at the location we are based, he seems to feel very secure & relaxed plus the localised crows & magpies don't seem to hassle him to much, when he takes flight during the day there is no commotion from any corvids, strange especiially as there are about 5 pairs of magpies & 4 pairs of crows.
He does visit our Eagle Owls regular though but only at night, thank god. If he came in during the day, we have birds on tethers in the open air. I have seen him active during the day but he tends to keep a good distance but still within our habitat boundary. I think it's the Eagle Owls that have attracted him in.
With regards to having the anklets & jesses cut off, yes this is possible & the feathers will grow back during a moult. The trouble is, nobody knows anything about him, no other sightings nor how long he has been out, this can be anyones guess.
Good questions though plus he is getting more used to me taking his photo
Posted by Rob Howard on October 27, 2008 at 5:08 PM
Hi Vince,
I know it may sound bizarre but would it be worth putting a glove on with prey and trying to call it in, although with no jesses, it could get a bit tricky !!
Rob
Posted by Vincent Jones on October 27, 2008 at 5:16 PM
I have tried that Rob & it just looked down at me to say, FOOL
I also tried running with what is called a dummy bunny, this did get a response & he did take flight after it. That was a great experience, one sec our Little Owls shouting his head off with no response back from the wild ones. There he is, he's back & sat on the telegraph pole with the CCTV camera below him. I hoot, he hoots, madness lol. I am starting to loose it I think lol
Where was I.
Oh yeah, with a dummy bunny I can only use this outside the aviary area, if I used it in the aviary area I would have all our birds hitting the wire to try & get it, that would be madness & pure chaos.
Posted by Rob Howard on October 27, 2008 at 5:27 PM
Do you think a truly wild bird would chase a dummy bunny?? It must be used to chasing a lure or coming into prey. Either that or it is very very hungry, but it looks in good condition and if it was that hungry would it come into your bait surely.
It's a shame we are about 200 miles apart otherwise I would come over and give you hand
Rob
Posted by Vincent Jones on October 27, 2008 at 5:54 PM
Just took time out to get me-self some tea, yet another night in with one of them carpet burgers from Mc's, I must start eating properly Excuse me lol.
Hi Rob,
The dummy bunny was on a 30 meter line & it was dragged in an open area that we use as an overflow car park. he might of been hungry to have chased it but he only did it the once, it was when we had a lot of rain in September.
He is no-where to be seen or heard at the moment plus all is very quiet & with no rabbits running around, he is obviously up to something. For me it's a waiting game & I bet I win I will not be beaten! Have you ever watched paint dry, I tell you its great fun
One day we are bound to meet & I look forward to it.
Posted by Rob Howard on October 27, 2008 at 6:05 PM
Vince, I regulary paint the inside of my hides, just to watch it dry during the dull moments
I'm sure you will get a result
Rob
Posted by Bob Hastie on October 27, 2008 at 6:41 PM
Hi Vince
This is so much better than Autumn Watch, a blow by blow account of one great mind pitted against that of a far lesser being (not saying which one is which though )
Best of luck tonight
Bob
Posted by Vincent Jones on October 27, 2008 at 6:54 PM
I agree, its better than television
Trouble I am having at the moment is the adverts are just too long, he's gone quiet & is nowhere to be heard. This is a bad habit he as or is it me that as developed a bad habit
I am starting to get high on coffee, I think I will be placed on drip feed the way he as taken over my life.
All the birds in their aviaries have all gone to sleep including the Owls, oh except for Bobby our Little Owl. She seems to be on watch duties & don't I know it. When she yelps our Eagle Owls jump to attention. Quite funny really because she looks like the Eagle Owls tennis ball with a mouth the size of the channel tunnel. You should hear her when she spots him. its brilliant! I hope nobody attempts to cross breed a Little Owl with an Eagle Owl, imagine it, huge feet, small tennis ball body with massive eyes & a big gob. Diet, Children's pets.
Oh, I tripped on the rope earlier & went flying lol, the aviary door also closed when I hit the deck.
A large fly just walked over the lens on the CCTV, are there flies around this time of year & alive? Its freezing our there & I thought that would of sorted them out. Good old nature.
Posted by Vincent Jones on October 28, 2008 at 2:54 AM
No joy throughout the night, he simply didn't return, this happens all the time, on occassions he hangs around like a bat. Will look for him at roost today to say hello
Another long night & now I am starting to look like an Owl. I drunk shed loads of coffee & got a lot of office work done though which is good, anyway I will try again tonight
I am off to roost for a bit now before the work force come in, Thanks for the interest shown
I will keep this thread updated if OK
Before I sign off, on the CCTV I can see in the front field a fox, 6 magpies & 4 crows, they are all playing tag but the fox isn't quick enough. Oh the fox as just dropped something from the rear, yuck lol. & just got hit in the back of the head by a crow. Brilliant!
Posted by Fran French on October 28, 2008 at 3:16 AM
Oh how I have been enjoying reading this! Such an interesting study for all of us, and you are in the heart of the action
I agree, it is far better than autumn watch was last night, plus you have a better soh than BO
I wish you well in trying to capture the owl, and will pop back later to listen to the next installment, it has been fascinating for me, and thanks for sharing
You could contact your local newspaper and get the story, and some of your images published A great advertisement for the Centre, and a quid or two for yourself.......just a thought?
Sleep well
Fran
Posted by Vincent Jones on October 28, 2008 at 3:33 AM
Cheers Fran If I get 2 quid, thats a big mac I will think about taking your advice when me stomach rubbles
Fascinating stuff Vince! Has been really interesting (and entertaining reading!)
Looking forward to hearing how you get on!
Pete
Posted by Dawn Monrose on October 28, 2008 at 6:17 AM
Fascinating!! Can't wait to find out what happens next....
On the subject of the lure, we once had to remove a wild tawny owl that had got stuck in a church. The people who tried to get it out before us used a dead mouse on a string as a lure, and it did chase it, but then again the owl was very very hungry. (We eventually got it with the towel chucking method, and it was safely released..)
Best of luck!!
Posted by Vincent Jones on October 28, 2008 at 7:41 AM
Hi all
Thanks for the comments, I have read the whole thread & after reading it made me laugh. This was a simple image posted, oh my god, what have I started
Update, can't find him at roost, he is either knackered like I am or he's roosting deep in cover or possibly off site somewhere, he can be very elusive. He will be back
When he next shows up, which should be when it's dark I will commence again. I must tell you that he doesn't always show up every night, he has been known to vanish then re-appear as if to say "Have you missed me". I think he goes wondering around the Gloucester Docks, someone did see what looked like an Eagle Owl sat in a window of a derelict docks warehouse, this being a few weeks ago now.
Around march/april this year a eagle owl (along with others) was stolen/released from a centre in lincolnshire. The bird was reported as an angry bird not having fear in man what so ever, and thats why it was in captivity, reports said that the bird had been seen near by a week later.
Not sure if it was ever re-captured, but the thieves would have most likely cut off any Identifying markers. Regarding the breeding pair in north yorkshire mentioned in a previous post, the female was shot with a shotgun using heavy-guage shot and died a slow death, as it was shot in the stomach and couldn't feed,
A police investigation was carried out as they were breeding on MOD land. They reared 23 chicks in the 9 years they were breeding there, all recorded and ringed, the male is still on the site. a BBC documentary was made about the pair called "return of the eagle owl". Evidece is pointing to eagle owls flying over the north sea from mainland europe, locations are kept pretty quiet but there a a few birds up here in the north east, one of them in newcastle sitting on the top of a block of flats, calling in the evening too.
you might try dragging a real rabbit, it might come to that, they do like live prey, the pair in n yorks liked to eat rabbits, jackdaws etc, they left the many lambs alone and other birds of prey buzzards, kestrels and tawny owls nested close by unmolested.
Posted by Paul Gibbs on October 28, 2008 at 8:54 AM
Interesting Vince, the bird seems to be in good condition, so is obviously feeding ok, (on what is a worry). Fun reading too, funny how your managing o get it to hoot back, is it a captive bird or wild human?
Posted by Jeroen Stel on October 28, 2008 at 2:45 PM
What a great discovery Vincent!
I guess if i had been the one to see it i would have mistaken it for a Long Eared Owl..
Well done getting all these images of it!
Greetings,
Jeroen Stel
Posted by Vincent Jones on October 28, 2008 at 4:59 PM
Sorry folks but the Eagle Owl hasn't landed He might be in later but I think I am going to use this precious time to rest.
Weathers miserable & cold so if I was him I would be sat up behind a tree trunk out of the cold breeze with one leg lifted & tucked in those warm feathers.
It looks like we will be both taking the evening off to conserve energy.
Posted by Vincent Jones on October 31, 2008 at 8:04 AM
HE'S BACK & looking good.
I hope it OK to upload just 3 images from this morning.
This image is when I first noticed him in an Oak tree.
Posted by Vincent Jones on October 31, 2008 at 8:06 AM
I hoot He hoots back
Posted by Vincent Jones on October 31, 2008 at 8:07 AM
He ventures out into an open space of the tree before he returns back to his roost perch..
Posted by Dawn Monrose on October 31, 2008 at 8:25 AM
He's a magnificent looking bird!
Are you still trying to catch him? Good luck if you are!
Surely he must have been captive at one stage as he seems so toleratant of a human, and camera and venturing out in the day. Perhaps he was released/escaped years ago? And has just been surviving...?
Posted by Gavin Law on October 31, 2008 at 1:28 PM
Great post Vince, just read from start to finish and most entertaining!
I remember the TV programme about the Eagle Owls up in Yorkshire on the MoD land, that sparkeda lot of debate, especially as they thought there was a pair.
I'm sure I read something about one up in Lancashire last year or the year before that was buzzing dogs and their walkers!
What will the plan be for it if you do catch it and it is wild, though highly unlikely (that it is wild)?
Posted by Paul Gibbs on November 3, 2008 at 6:03 AM
The trouble is what is "WILD".
If it has no jessies, tags, chips or tattoos even if it seems friendly can you prove it is not "wild"?
Paul - proof is usually via DNA sampling. But that is expensive.
Vince, you certainly got him interested from the ear position. Hope he doesn't visit during any free flying displays as it might be a bit messy
Posted by Paul Gibbs on November 3, 2008 at 6:49 AM
DNA, is one methiod, assuming that all birds are DNA sampled and logged, but there are enough "Grey" imported birds that is would be highly possible that the bird is under the radar.
Now if its a Bengal EO or another non-Eurasian EO, for example then it would be possible to tell but if it's parent bred in the wild then in is it not "wild" though an alien species. Which some argue they all are alien, even the Eurasian.
Discussion
38 repliesThis is an Eagle Owl that has been flying wild around our Centre since the 24th August 2008. The Owl is very active during the evenings & causes kaos with our birds when it enters the aviary area. Is it a wild one or an escapee?
It isn't one of ours & its's not wearing anklets or jesses or even a leg ring. Looking through a spotting scope today I could see that the legs are that of a wild Owl, completely natural & untouched by humans.
Just thought it would be good to share this. As for cloning I think I will pass on this shot
Thanks for looking
D2X
200mm F2 VR
ISO 100
F2.8
1/500th sec
Hand held
Cheers
Matt
What at a Barn Owl Centre
I do work with them but these ones are (c) bred. These tend to come back so I can help to keep the local wildlife safe & the Barn Owls I also fly
Need a beer
Cheers Matt
Question: Who would fly a trained Barn Owl free knowing that there is an Eagle Owl loose in the vacinity? Its great anywhere else, but as people say, not on my door step lol
Thanks for sharing
Regards
Rob
If you manage to get a clean shot of the legs showing 'natural feathering', would suggest you send image to Steve Dudley at BOU and/or Graham Madge at RSPB. Because of potential conflict with other 'rare' species, both organisations reluctant to encourage the idea of natural colonisation as opposed to escapee status. Interesting!
Pete
If you want to contact them on my behalf you are more than welcome, at the moment it is controlling more or less everything we try to do at our Centre & I need to get the Centre more operational to bring the funds in. I am in two minds especially as I can call it in at night by hooting at it in darkness. the damn thing calls back at me lol. I think I have pulled
I am going to attempt to capture him because he still might be an escapee even though he's not wearing a captive ID. What might be hidden is a microchip, this is what I am hoping for as it is a legal requirement to have some form of perminant ID.if captive bred. There again it might be an escaped bird from a domestic garden, who knows. The hooting is not natural if it is wild & it will allow me to get very close both day & night.
My life is very complicated at the moment & I am starting to loose my marbles
Looks like another long night
By the way he is sat on a pole as I type, hooting his head off. Wild or captive bred?
I wish I had the web cams working, I could of gone live with this
IMO if it's hooting so much and coming virtually into your aviary, then surely it's captive bred, otherwise I reckon it would give you a wide berth, reckon it's shouting at you for food, although it is obviously able to fend for itself as well.
Good luck for the sake of your Owl's (localand captive) this gets sorted
Rob
Rob
Just popping back out to keep him vocal, this helps to alert Rabbits I think & might keep him hungry so he comes in quicker.
Back soon.
Not the best of images.
Please delete if I have posted to many images. Last one, not unless i catch him.
Do you think a wild Eagle Owl would be this confiding?? I'm not an expert, I know wild Barn Owl and Tawnies will sit while you can take images of them.
Why is it hanging around the avaries?? Is it because it knows that there is a meal there or the fact that it is used to seeing avaries and other birds?? How possible would it be, for the owner not to be able to tend for it any longer and cut/remove jesses/rings??? before setting it free and would the legs feathers regrow after a moult??
Intriguing stuff!
Rob
Having not worked with wild Eagle Owls before only captive & escapees for which I have helped to re-capture, getting Eagle Owls (c) to call back I have found quite easy, for a wild one I can't give you an answer. Personally I would say yes because they do show a similar behaviour pattern to Tawnies if a call was made.
Hanging around the aviaries & at the location we are based, he seems to feel very secure & relaxed plus the localised crows & magpies don't seem to hassle him to much, when he takes flight during the day there is no commotion from any corvids, strange especiially as there are about 5 pairs of magpies & 4 pairs of crows.
He does visit our Eagle Owls regular though but only at night, thank god. If he came in during the day, we have birds on tethers in the open air. I have seen him active during the day but he tends to keep a good distance but still within our habitat boundary. I think it's the Eagle Owls that have attracted him in.
With regards to having the anklets & jesses cut off, yes this is possible & the feathers will grow back during a moult. The trouble is, nobody knows anything about him, no other sightings nor how long he has been out, this can be anyones guess.
Good questions though plus he is getting more used to me taking his photo
I know it may sound bizarre but would it be worth putting a glove on with prey and trying to call it in, although with no jesses, it could get a bit tricky !!
Rob
I also tried running with what is called a dummy bunny, this did get a response & he did take flight after it. That was a great experience, one sec our Little Owls shouting his head off with no response back from the wild ones. There he is, he's back & sat on the telegraph pole with the CCTV camera below him. I hoot, he hoots, madness lol. I am starting to loose it I think lol
Where was I.
Oh yeah, with a dummy bunny I can only use this outside the aviary area, if I used it in the aviary area I would have all our birds hitting the wire to try & get it, that would be madness & pure chaos.
It's a shame we are about 200 miles apart otherwise I would come over and give you hand
Rob
Hi Rob,
The dummy bunny was on a 30 meter line & it was dragged in an open area that we use as an overflow car park. he might of been hungry to have chased it but he only did it the once, it was when we had a lot of rain in September.
He is no-where to be seen or heard at the moment plus all is very quiet & with no rabbits running around, he is obviously up to something. For me it's a waiting game & I bet I win
One day we are bound to meet & I look forward to it.
I'm sure you will get a result
Rob
This is so much better than Autumn Watch, a blow by blow account of one great mind pitted against that of a far lesser being (not saying which one is which though
Best of luck tonight
Bob
Trouble I am having at the moment is the adverts are just too long, he's gone quiet & is nowhere to be heard. This is a bad habit he as or is it me that as developed a bad habit
I am starting to get high on coffee, I think I will be placed on drip feed the way he as taken over my life.
All the birds in their aviaries have all gone to sleep including the Owls, oh except for Bobby our Little Owl. She seems to be on watch duties & don't I know it. When she yelps our Eagle Owls jump to attention. Quite funny really because she looks like the Eagle Owls tennis ball with a mouth the size of the channel tunnel. You should hear her when she spots him. its brilliant! I hope nobody attempts to cross breed a Little Owl with an Eagle Owl, imagine it, huge feet, small tennis ball body with massive eyes & a big gob. Diet, Children's pets.
Oh, I tripped on the rope earlier & went flying lol, the aviary door also closed when I hit the deck.
A large fly just walked over the lens on the CCTV, are there flies around this time of year & alive? Its freezing our there & I thought that would of sorted them out. Good old nature.
Another long night & now I am starting to look like an Owl.
I am off to roost for a bit now before the work force come in, Thanks for the interest shown
I will keep this thread updated if OK
Before I sign off, on the CCTV I can see in the front field a fox, 6 magpies & 4 crows, they are all playing tag but the fox isn't quick enough. Oh the fox as just dropped something from the rear, yuck lol. & just got hit in the back of the head by a crow.
I agree, it is far better than autumn watch was last night, plus you have a better soh than BO
I wish you well in trying to capture the owl, and will pop back later to listen to the next installment, it has been fascinating for me, and thanks for sharing
You could contact your local newspaper and get the story, and some of your images published
Sleep well
Fran
Looking forward to hearing how you get on!
Pete
On the subject of the lure, we once had to remove a wild tawny owl that had got stuck in a church. The people who tried to get it out before us used a dead mouse on a string as a lure, and it did chase it, but then again the owl was very very hungry. (We eventually got it with the towel chucking method, and it was safely released..)
Best of luck!!
Thanks for the comments, I have read the whole thread & after reading it made me laugh. This was a simple image posted, oh my god, what have I started
Update, can't find him at roost, he is either knackered like I am or he's roosting deep in cover or possibly off site somewhere, he can be very elusive. He will be back
When he next shows up, which should be when it's dark I will commence again. I must tell you that he doesn't always show up every night, he has been known to vanish then re-appear as if to say "Have you missed me". I think he goes wondering around the Gloucester Docks, someone did see what looked like an Eagle Owl sat in a window of a derelict docks warehouse, this being a few weeks ago now.
Back soon
Good work Dawn on the Tawny Owl
Not sure if it was ever re-captured, but the thieves would have most likely cut off any Identifying markers. Regarding the breeding pair in north yorkshire mentioned in a previous post, the female was shot with a shotgun using heavy-guage shot and died a slow death, as it was shot in the stomach and couldn't feed,
A police investigation was carried out as they were breeding on MOD land. They reared 23 chicks in the 9 years they were breeding there, all recorded and ringed, the male is still on the site. a BBC documentary was made about the pair called "return of the eagle owl". Evidece is pointing to eagle owls flying over the north sea from mainland europe, locations are kept pretty quiet but there a a few birds up here in the north east, one of them in newcastle sitting on the top of a block of flats, calling in the evening too.
you might try dragging a real rabbit, it might come to that, they do like live prey, the pair in n yorks liked to eat rabbits, jackdaws etc, they left the many lambs alone and other birds of prey buzzards, kestrels and tawny owls nested close by unmolested.
I guess if i had been the one to see it i would have mistaken it for a Long Eared Owl..
Well done getting all these images of it!
Greetings,
Jeroen Stel
Weathers miserable & cold so if I was him I would be sat up behind a tree trunk out of the cold breeze with one leg lifted & tucked in those warm feathers.
It looks like we will be both taking the evening off to conserve energy.
I hope it OK to upload just 3 images from this morning.
This image is when I first noticed him in an Oak tree.
Are you still trying to catch him? Good luck if you are!
Surely he must have been captive at one stage as he seems so toleratant of a human, and camera and venturing out in the day. Perhaps he was released/escaped years ago? And has just been surviving...?
I remember the TV programme about the Eagle Owls up in Yorkshire on the MoD land, that sparkeda lot of debate, especially as they thought there was a pair.
I'm sure I read something about one up in Lancashire last year or the year before that was buzzing dogs and their walkers!
What will the plan be for it if you do catch it and it is wild, though highly unlikely (that it is wild)?
If it has no jessies, tags, chips or tattoos even if it seems friendly can you prove it is not "wild"?
Vince, you certainly got him interested from the ear position. Hope he doesn't visit during any free flying displays as it might be a bit messy
Now if its a Bengal EO or another non-Eurasian EO, for example then it would be possible to tell but if it's parent bred in the wild then in is it not "wild" though an alien species. Which some argue they all are alien, even the Eurasian.