Stumbling upon Short-Eared Owls

I volunteer for a children’s charity and we’re having a meeting of our trustees in Oxfordshire. I check a map and see we’ll be meeting next to RSPB Otmoor. I’ve been to RSPB Otmoor before, back in 2017 and had an idyllic day there.

There were butterflies:

Butterflies then and now

Rare birds:

A Turtle Dove purring like a cat

And some inspiration to look back at my old Ladybird books, with beautiful views of Linnets:

The First Ladybird Book of British Birds – #7 The Linnet

This is my chance to go there again, after our trustee meeting.

It’s mid-afternoon when I arrive and see photographers there, and one kindly tells me there are Short-Eared Owls about. I wait and sure enough, one flies past.

Short-Eared Owl - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Those eyes, though. Incredible, aren’t they?

Short-Eared Owl - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

I love how long owl’s legs are. You’d never guess it unless you saw them.

Short-Eared Owl - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

I can see two in the air at the same time, with four Magpies in attendance:

Short-Eared Owls - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

They are so high and distant now, but I can see them interacting with one another, and one is briefly upside-down with its talons in the air.

Short-Eared Owls with talons out - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

The light’s not good and it’s getting dark unreasonably early, but I’m too fascinated by the owl’s hunting behaviour to leave. I love the twist and plunge it does.

Short-Eared Owl - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

I haven’t seen it catch anything yet, tonight.

Short-Eared Owl - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

There’s always tomorrow.

More Short-Eared Owls

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