Owls in Lincolnshire ~ Where to See and Photograph Them
Owls in Lincolnshire
I think the Owl is, perhaps, the most evocative species of bird in the British Isles, you don’t see them very often but, sometimes you do and . . .
Yesterday I did, I also think it might be quite a special one
All Owls are special of course and I personally see very few indeed but yesterday was a Red Letter Day - I went back to Nettleton in search of the comfort of nature and open spaces plus the hope of seeing an Owl.
What a result I had !
A Little Owl ?
Somebody somewhere must have been looking down favourably on me
I think the above may be a Little Owl, I certainly hope it is as I’ve never seen one before let alone photographed one.
It was all very poetic as I was crouched behind a huge piece of ironstone rock, which makes so many of the churches In normally see, looking into a tree in the bottom of a valley looking at this beautiful Owl.
I wondered, and indeed wonder still, whether it was a young one. I didn’t act like one fly like one but I’m no bird expert, no ornithologist so is it or isn’t it ?
Athene Noctua ?
It was very dark over head, almost black in fact, and the bird was hidden amongst branches and foliage plus I kept my distance so as not to disturb my new best friend.
It’s hard to describe just how exciting it is not only to find such a bird but at the moment you’re about to press the shutter - fabulous and not a littl enerve-wracking in a strange way
I’ve been searching most evenings last week for Short-Eared Owls at Worlaby Carrs with no joy at all, unlike the fabulous trip I had some time ago with my brother to Nocton Fen - I personally think they qualify as rare birds.
What a Beautiful Sight
Perhaps not officially ‘a ‘rare bird’ but one seldom seen, even in my case when you specifically go looking for them sometimes.
I’d like to put together a bit of a list of places in Lincolnshire at which Owls are known to frequent - do you know of any - can you help - if so please do leave a comment ?
What particular types do you see ?
I know there’s Tawny, Barn and Short-Eared Owls about, possibly even Little Owls if I’m right about the above but any others ?
It was a tremendous afternoon, I was out for 4 hours walking Over the Hills and far Away, it was a privilege just to be there let alone to see and photograph our friend above.
I don’t want to sound corny and clichéd with a load of hoary old homilies so I’ll shut up but . . .
I wouldn’t have swapped places with anybody - it was quite fabulous and I urge you to try and find such a spot and some time in your life just to enjoy the same - I guarantee, if you give yourself to it, it will pay you back ten-fold
Raptoringly Yours
Rod
chris keyworth said,
August 4, 2010 @ 10:19 am
excellent photos Rod, pleased they where still there for your return, thats a stroke of Luck well worth the second walk back down there…
Incidentaly remember that plant you photoed on the west side of the wolds it was a Equisetum Arvense a member of the horsetail family, it was usedin the oldern days i.e before chris not christ for the treatment of kidney and bladder disorders and also used tin cases of bedwetting and for arthritis, eczema and ulcers, a very interesting plant
regards
chris….
Rod said,
August 4, 2010 @ 11:01 am
Chris,
it was fabulous, couldn’t believe I managed to locate the spot either - given my sense of direction.
I didn’t exactly come back the way I’d thought though
Thanks for the plant info, it is interesting - so much so I’m writing it up now after your info
Best
Rod
Little Brother said,
August 4, 2010 @ 11:44 am
Rod,
What a find! Great photos, love the first one especially. I recently saw a barn owl at the back of Fiskerton Fen, they have some nesting boxes which are on the bank above the river.
LB
Jordan said,
August 4, 2010 @ 11:46 am
Rod
The Owl is certainly a beautiful and highly intelligent bird.
How very fortuitous you were in spotting one. Lovely pictures! Really well done Rod
Jordan
Donald ( South Australia ) said,
August 4, 2010 @ 11:47 am
Hi Rod,
Terrific photos. What a find, and indeed it “is all very poetic”. Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s beautiful lines from “Frost at Midnight” come back from schooldays:
…. .. … . The owlet’s cry
Came loud, - and hark, again! loud as before.
We have some species here in this far pavilion, and they would appear to match the elusiveness of your birds.
Look forward to some more wisdom,
Donald.
Rod said,
August 4, 2010 @ 11:55 am
LB,
many thanks - hope to have a joint trip there one day
I’m still not sure whether it definately a Little Owl or not though
Rod
Rod said,
August 4, 2010 @ 11:58 am
Jordan,
thanks for that - genuinely appreciated. It’s not only ver pleasurable but the excitement is palpable - you can actually feel it in your chest.
I always fear it will just fly off before I get a picture - or I’ll have some silly camera setting wrong.
It’s all something of a joy.
Best
Rod
Rod said,
August 4, 2010 @ 11:59 am
Donald,
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Now you’re talking !
I’d have a field day with my camera in Australia !
Not sure about some of the spiders and marco shots though
Thanks and regards
Rod
Little Brother said,
August 4, 2010 @ 1:02 pm
Rod,
‘Tis mate.
LB
chris keyworth said,
August 4, 2010 @ 5:09 pm
just been thro my book and yes it is indeed a Little Owl or Athene noctua aprox 22cm in size, stocky with a short tail, upper parts dark brown with dense white spots, habitat, open varied lowland farmland with small copses, meadows with pollarded willows or in orchards by villages,
the little owl is often seen by day, i would think what we saw was a breeding pair so there will be others in the area also…
regards
chris
Rod said,
August 4, 2010 @ 6:49 pm
Chris,
fantastic - many thanks - what a result
Best
Rod
The Dinosaur said,
August 4, 2010 @ 6:54 pm
Rod, delighted to see your photos of the Little Owl, I’ve seen quite a few Barn Owls in various locations including one in the town as I was walking home one evening perched on a garden fence just a few feet from me, I’ve also seen a Tawny Owl sat in a tree by the roadside at Gibraltar Point near Skegness but I envy you the Little Owl. One owl you would be very lucky to see though is a Snowy Owl, I once saw one at Kelstern, gliding low over a snow covered field that used to be part of the wartime airbase, it’s huge wingspan made it breathtaking. I think they would only be seen in this county in extremely cold winters.
Rod said,
August 4, 2010 @ 7:03 pm
Dino,
that’s a fine selection of owls you’ve seen but the last one trumps everything - a Snowy Owl !
It doesn’t get much better than that - I’d probably pass out if I saw one
Cheers
Rod
chris keyworth said,
August 4, 2010 @ 8:06 pm
i love the first photo its a good contrast in scale with the oak leaves next to the owl gives a good idea of actualy how small the owl really is
regards
chris
chris keyworth said,
August 4, 2010 @ 8:10 pm
just an after thought on the location of the owls why not go back and see if you can snap those woodpeckers that made the three neat holes in that other oak tree, one of the holes was used recently as it had fecal mater on the lower portion of the entrance….
regards
chris
Rod said,
August 5, 2010 @ 8:31 am
Chris,
I’ll definately be back and I did keep my eye on the woodpecker holes, will surely do so again.
The good part about the spot is you can keep well out of the way and not disturb them. It costs you in picture quality but I’d sooner have ’soft’ shots rather than bother the owls.
Best
Rod
chris keyworth said,
August 5, 2010 @ 10:59 pm
i like the first picture that much ive saved it as my desktop background…
Rod said,
August 6, 2010 @ 8:38 am
Chris,
I was back there yet again yesterday - third trip now
I took what could almost be the perfect picture compositionally for me anyways - the ‘photograph’ is rubbish but a great ‘picture’ - far too far away but how’s this for a batting list:
An owl, in earthworks, in a DMV !
What more could you ask for
chris keyworth said,
August 7, 2010 @ 3:43 pm
yes looks like it is feeding they eat small mammels, reptiles and insects remember when we examind that cliff face for fossils, it was teaming with insect life….
regards
chris