The weather here in Hampshire this November has been changeable and mild, with very strong gusts of wind accompanied by rain. To date there has been only one frosty morning, which I don't mind as usually the day turns out to be clear and sunny, ideal for getting out birding.
There has been five Short Eared Owls seen together at Farlington Marshes, Hampshire, these last few weeks, which is amazing. Obviously there are enough voles to go around at the moment.
On the 9th November, I went there, hoping to see and perhaps get some photos of the owls, but it wasn't to be. Light conditions were poor and although I saw two owls, they were a long way off and kept their distance.
I returned to Farlington on the 12th, to try my luck and this time was more successful. Again the weather was grey and overcast, with very poor light and for the first couple of hours, there wasn't an owl in sight. There had been a Kestrel hunting around the edges of the fields, but nothing else and I was beginning to think that I might draw another blank.
Later on however, as I walked towards an area known as Point Field, I saw a Short Eared Owl quartering the area. As the footpath runs next to the field, I had good views of it as it hunted. It then had a brief skirmish with a Kestrel, before returning to hunting and then surprisingly landed in the grass, not too far from me, where it stood looking at me, wonderful.
Although I only saw the one owl, I did have some good views and even managed a few photos in the poor light.
At Moor Green Lakes in Berkshire, some of the Goosanders have arrived back on the lakes to overwinter, as they regularly do, numbers are low at the moment, but will probably increase as the weather gets colder.
A pair of Coal Tits and a Grey Wagtail have been regular visitors to the garden recently, the Wagtail to hopefully catch some flies around my fish pond and the Coal Tits to raid the sunflower hearts at the feeders.
In the last week, Fieldfare have been visiting my neighbours Rowan tree, which still has a plentiful supply of berries. They are normally accompanied by Redwing, but I haven't seen one yet.
There has been five Short Eared Owls seen together at Farlington Marshes, Hampshire, these last few weeks, which is amazing. Obviously there are enough voles to go around at the moment.
On the 9th November, I went there, hoping to see and perhaps get some photos of the owls, but it wasn't to be. Light conditions were poor and although I saw two owls, they were a long way off and kept their distance.
I returned to Farlington on the 12th, to try my luck and this time was more successful. Again the weather was grey and overcast, with very poor light and for the first couple of hours, there wasn't an owl in sight. There had been a Kestrel hunting around the edges of the fields, but nothing else and I was beginning to think that I might draw another blank.
Later on however, as I walked towards an area known as Point Field, I saw a Short Eared Owl quartering the area. As the footpath runs next to the field, I had good views of it as it hunted. It then had a brief skirmish with a Kestrel, before returning to hunting and then surprisingly landed in the grass, not too far from me, where it stood looking at me, wonderful.
Although I only saw the one owl, I did have some good views and even managed a few photos in the poor light.
At Moor Green Lakes in Berkshire, some of the Goosanders have arrived back on the lakes to overwinter, as they regularly do, numbers are low at the moment, but will probably increase as the weather gets colder.
A pair of Coal Tits and a Grey Wagtail have been regular visitors to the garden recently, the Wagtail to hopefully catch some flies around my fish pond and the Coal Tits to raid the sunflower hearts at the feeders.
In the last week, Fieldfare have been visiting my neighbours Rowan tree, which still has a plentiful supply of berries. They are normally accompanied by Redwing, but I haven't seen one yet.
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