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:
Rare birds:
And some inspiration to look back at my old Ladybird books, with beautiful views of Linnets:
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)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Short-Eared-Owl-The-Hall-of-Einar-9-725x483.jpg)
Those eyes, though. Incredible, aren’t they?
![Short-Eared Owl - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Short-Eared-Owl-The-Hall-of-Einar-8-725x483.jpg)
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)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Short-Eared-Owl-The-Hall-of-Einar-4-725x484.jpg)
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)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/All-happening-The-Hall-of-Einar--725x408.jpg)
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)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Short-Eared-Owls-with-talons-out-The-Hall-of-Einar--725x484.jpg)
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)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Short-Eared-Owl-The-Hall-of-Einar-12-725x483.jpg)
I haven’t seen it catch anything yet, tonight.
![Short-Eared Owl - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Short-Eared-Owl-The-Hall-of-Einar--725x408.jpg)
There’s always tomorrow.
More Short-Eared Owls
![Short Eared Owl - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Short-Eared-Owl-The-Hall-of-Einar-2-300x200.jpg)
![Short Eared Owl - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Short-Eared-Owl-The-Hall-of-Einar-6-300x200.jpg)
![Short-Eared Owl - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Short-Eared-Owl-The-Hall-of-Einar-1-1-300x200.jpg)
![2021 Orkney Life - The Hall of Einar](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2021-300x157.jpg)
![Short-Eared Owl - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Short-Eared-Owl-The-Hall-of-Einar-4-300x200.jpg)
![Short-Eared Owl - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Short-Eared-Owl-The-Hall-of-Einar-3-300x169.jpg)
![Ring of Brodgar - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Orkney-The-Hall-of-Einar-6-300x200.jpg)