MJB
Well-known member
It can also indicate that nocturnal hunting conditions have been poor - high winds make it difficult for the owl's hearing to discriminate prey noises, and continuous rain can have a similar effect.
MJB
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Norfolk birding (28 Viewers)
- Thread starter Edward woodwood
- Start date
It can also indicate that nocturnal hunting conditions have been poor - high winds make it difficult for the owl's hearing to discriminate prey noises, and continuous rain can have a similar effect.
MJB
I work in a large wood where up to 17 buzzards can be seen displaying at times in the early spring . We also have several pairs of barn owls , but in 16 years I have never seen any interaction between them. Indeed its not often I see both in the air togeather as even day feeding barn owls have usualy gone to roost by 10 am , the time when buzzards start to become very active. As for kestrels stealing food from barn owls , its something I have seen fairly often. There used to be a kestrel that hunted the seaward end of lady Anns Drive , Holkham who did this regulary.
As for buzzards taking owls , its possible , but I suspect a very rare happening. I spend 100s of hours a year watching buzzards and find its rare for them to take any birds let alone owls. I have found a few game bird bones in their pellets ( mainly chicks ), but most have contained rodent bones and beetle cases.
Two years ago I was watching 4 buzzards hunting a stubble field for voles. Under them several hundred wood pigeons were also feeding , but on spilt grain and yet they showed little reaction to the buzzards. Only scattering a few yards when a buzzard stooped on a vole . They would soon move off if they reconised buzzards as a threat. In contrast when we had a pair of goshawks nesting a few years ago as the hawk entered the wood the pigeons would flee out of the other side.
As for buzzards taking owls , its possible , but I suspect a very rare happening. I spend 100s of hours a year watching buzzards and find its rare for them to take any birds let alone owls. I have found a few game bird bones in their pellets ( mainly chicks ), but most have contained rodent bones and beetle cases.
Two years ago I was watching 4 buzzards hunting a stubble field for voles. Under them several hundred wood pigeons were also feeding , but on spilt grain and yet they showed little reaction to the buzzards. Only scattering a few yards when a buzzard stooped on a vole . They would soon move off if they reconised buzzards as a threat. In contrast when we had a pair of goshawks nesting a few years ago as the hawk entered the wood the pigeons would flee out of the other side.
GeoffBowen
Member
Owls
Hi all
Wouldn't you know it, you wait for ages, then just like buses, a whole bunch come along together. Today I saw 4 Barn Owls, 2 around Burnham Norton & 2 at Thornham. I knew if I posted I hadn't seen any it might do the trick!!!
But checking back through the last couple of years, I saw loads in 2011, then fewer in 2012, followed by a drop off last year when I saw only 6. I get the impression there are fewer generally about. Just got Little, Tawny, Short-eared & Long-eared to go !
Cheers
Geoff
Hi all
Wouldn't you know it, you wait for ages, then just like buses, a whole bunch come along together. Today I saw 4 Barn Owls, 2 around Burnham Norton & 2 at Thornham. I knew if I posted I hadn't seen any it might do the trick!!!
But checking back through the last couple of years, I saw loads in 2011, then fewer in 2012, followed by a drop off last year when I saw only 6. I get the impression there are fewer generally about. Just got Little, Tawny, Short-eared & Long-eared to go !
Cheers
Geoff
Lightthiscandle
David Bryant
Phil Littler, the guy who traps and rings birds at Sculthorpe, and Tim, the Warden told me on Monday that they have no recent credible records of Willow Tit and believe they no longer occur in the area....
Viv Connett
Well-known member
There was a pair calling near the big hide just after Christmas -heard (and seen calling!) by us and by another observer.
gordon hamlett
Well-known member
I had one showing very well back in February 2013, but none since in 15 subsequent visits when I've been wardening there.
Gordon
Lightthiscandle
David Bryant
willowgrouse
Well-known member
Barn owls hunting in rain
This is true MJB, but interestingly I saw one hunting, in north Norfolk, at dusk in heavy rain, about a fortnight ago. This occurred immedately following extensive overnight rain over a 2-day period, with windy conditions and very little dry weather during the daylight hours. This event was undoubtedly a reaction to extreme hunger. It continued to rain much of the night so I suspect the outcome will not be favourable for this individual.
Also, at this time of year, paired males will hunt in daylight to try to obtain extra food to both prove their own fitness to a female, and to provide extra food to bring females into breeding condition.
None of the last 3 years have been good for barn owls, but I have personally seen quite a lot this year, certainly over the northern half of the county, but rarely more than one at a time, suggesting that some (perhaps many) occupied territories do not have pairs in them, just single birds.
This is true MJB, but interestingly I saw one hunting, in north Norfolk, at dusk in heavy rain, about a fortnight ago. This occurred immedately following extensive overnight rain over a 2-day period, with windy conditions and very little dry weather during the daylight hours. This event was undoubtedly a reaction to extreme hunger. It continued to rain much of the night so I suspect the outcome will not be favourable for this individual.
Also, at this time of year, paired males will hunt in daylight to try to obtain extra food to both prove their own fitness to a female, and to provide extra food to bring females into breeding condition.
None of the last 3 years have been good for barn owls, but I have personally seen quite a lot this year, certainly over the northern half of the county, but rarely more than one at a time, suggesting that some (perhaps many) occupied territories do not have pairs in them, just single birds.
willowgrouse
Well-known member
Marsh/Willow Tits
Worth remembering that Willow Tit is a county description species. Details of how/where to submit descriptions/records to the county records committee can be found in the Norfolk Bird & Mammal Report
Worth remembering that Willow Tit is a county description species. Details of how/where to submit descriptions/records to the county records committee can be found in the Norfolk Bird & Mammal Report
Johny121
Birds
A good morning climaxed with the sun coming out and after 24 years of woe me finding my first norfolk Lesser spotted woodpecker and getting a picture.. other birds nearby included reed bunting, yellowhammer, brambling, mistlethrush and marsh tit. A trip into the Brecks gave 2 singing woodlark and while several people gazed into the paddock a female hawfinch sat briefly in the pines at Lynford.
The sniper
Well-known member
Had two out hunting together yesterday at Titchwell
Andy Stoddart
Active member
Norfolk Bird Reports
I have one or two spare back copies of the Norfolk Bird Report, most years since 1995.
If you're interested, pm me for more details.
Thanks
I have one or two spare back copies of the Norfolk Bird Report, most years since 1995.
If you're interested, pm me for more details.
Thanks
Titchwell February 20th
Today's sightings:
Hen harrier - A stunning male hunting over the saltmarsh mid afternoon
Siskin - 2 on the feeders at the VC
Snow bunting - 2 on the beach
Spotted redshank - 2 between the fresh marsh and lavender pool
Scaup - Female still on Patsys pool
Merlin - 1 seen over the fresh marsh
Ed.
Today's sightings:
Hen harrier - A stunning male hunting over the saltmarsh mid afternoon
Siskin - 2 on the feeders at the VC
Snow bunting - 2 on the beach
Spotted redshank - 2 between the fresh marsh and lavender pool
Scaup - Female still on Patsys pool
Merlin - 1 seen over the fresh marsh
Ed.
Holt Crossbills
Please see thread. Just a cautionary note re. these birds and a further request for any shots but specifically from last Sunday.
Thanks
Edit - apologies not sure how to show link as a proper link.
Home > Forums > Birding > Bird Identification Q&A > Common or Parrot Crossbills?
Please see thread. Just a cautionary note re. these birds and a further request for any shots but specifically from last Sunday.
Thanks
Edit - apologies not sure how to show link as a proper link.
Home > Forums > Birding > Bird Identification Q&A > Common or Parrot Crossbills?
harrier1234
Well-known member
Brancaster 1645hrs
Driving home this evening male Hen Harrier crossed in front of my car at the top of the hill into Brancaster. Great way to start the weekend.
Driving home this evening male Hen Harrier crossed in front of my car at the top of the hill into Brancaster. Great way to start the weekend.
KEVIN BROWN
Casual Birder
I realise some people may believe me but whilst looking for Rough-legged Buzzards yesterday at Haddiscoe, as I stopped my van a Kite flew low directly over my head towards the station, as viewed it through my bins I noticed it had no distinct white patches on the wings and its tail was not as forked as a Red Kite, the top of its wings were half very dark brown and half a paler brown, as managed to pick more detail on the underside of the wings there was like a vein pattern of white markings. Having seen hundreds of Red Kites and many Black Kites overseas, I am convinced as unlikely as it may seem this was a Black Kite. I am by no means a great birder, but the description is a honest one and noted before looking at any reference. I would also like to thank the couple in a purple Fiat Panda who very kindly put me onto a Rough Legged and male Hen Harrier, allowing me the use of their scope, if anyone knows who they are please past on my gratitude.
AFeather
Well-known member
On thursday I found a common pochard with a nasal saddle tag on, I was walking along the river near potter heigham. It turned out to be a bird from france, ringed near paris. There are also a few greylags with neck collars which were local birds from hickling........not the rare orkney greylag.
MJB
Well-known member
A group standing alongside us claimed 39 Velvet Scoters in the several rafts.... Certainly saw at least five in the nearest raft.
Just beside the main path about 10 metres from the turn-off to the Titchwell shop, a Long-tailed Tit was energetically building a nest - in February!
I Note that a Tawny Owl chick has been rescued in Suffolk... see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-26264881.
MJB
