Setting off birding early in the morning means there’s a chance of seeing owls, usually Barn Owls. This morning at Pilling there was a Tawny Owl at the roadside but unfortunately it was dead, the victim of an overnight collision with a vehicle.
The woodland living Tawny Owl is very nocturnal and does indeed spend most of its time in the woods so is less likely to fall victim to motorised vehicles than the crepuscular Barn Owl. Barn Owls are very frequent road and rail victims.
Tawny Owl
I stopped the car to take a look and recued the battered, dishevelled body, placing it in the car for later. There was a BTO ring on the owl’s left leg so I will report that although I’m pretty sure who the ringer is.
Tawny Owls are one of the UK’s most sedentary birds and although young birds disperse from their place of birth they rarely move far, the average distance being just four kilometres.
Tawny Owls are one of the UK’s most sedentary birds and although young birds disperse from their place of birth they rarely move far, the average distance being just four kilometres.
Size "G" - UK Ringing Scheme via the British Trust for Ornithology
I was working on borrowed time today with only an hour or two spare in which to visit the usual spots.
The Common Terns really fooled me last weekend at Conder Green when the female was hunkered down out of sight on the nest as the male made less frequent visits to Glasson Dock, the seemingly regular feeding spot. Anyway today was more normal with even the female heading off in the direction of Glasson where I actually saw both birds, one where the canal meets the yacht basin and one over the lock. Could there be youngsters in that unseen nest?
Waders today: 3 Greenshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 4 Snipe, 4 Common Sandpiper, 6 Curlew, 75 Lapwing, 90 Redshank.
Lapwing
Also 4 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron and 4 Teal.
Pied Wagtail
Lapwing
Brown Hare
At Glasson the aforementioned Common Terns, 2 Grey Wagtail, 25 Swallow, 4 Swift, 2 Grey Heron and 3 Cormorant, but I was out of birding time so saved it for another day.
Cormorant
Swallow
Swallow
Sunday doesn’t look good because what’s left of Bertha is heading across the Atlantic Ocean and about to hit the UK with wind and rain.
Never mind, Another Bird Blog will be back as soon as possible.
Linking today to Stewart's World Bird Wednesday.
Never mind, Another Bird Blog will be back as soon as possible.
Linking today to Stewart's World Bird Wednesday.
22 comments:
Poor owl. I love the lapwings and the hare.
How utterly sad that the Barn Owl was killed. One can only hope that there are not hungry youngsters waiting for a parent to return with food.
So sorry for the Tawny Owl :( The waders and Swallow images are so clear and sharp, great photos.
Sad news about the owl..I am glad your day turned out better. The Lapwing would be a cool sighting for me.. I love the cute swallows and the hare! Wonderful photos, happy birding!
Very sad about the owl, Phil. You managed some fine pictures of the living too and I really like the swallow.
Wonderful pictures of the lapwing and the hare!
Lucky you... It's sooo difficult here to approach those species!
Sad story for little Tawny owl, I hate to see this.
Take care!
It is very sad, in fact in my country is also very common in roadsides to find too many birds dead.
Those gorgeous Lapwings, the handsome, marvelous Hare and oh of course the wonderful and amazing Swallows, make up a little bit of the sorrow I felt at seeing the poor little Tawny Owl. How very unfortunate it is, when things like this happen...very sad. I am glad that you did not just leave it there to get plucked away, or run over a million times...they need to be buried with dignity~
Have a wonderful week Phil~
What a sad end for the tawny Owl.
I do feel the same sorrow as the others. I'm glad you could take him away and not leave him. Superb captures as always! Thank you for sharing the beauty!
How sad to see a beautiful owl dead. I'm glad you took care of it. It would be even sadder to see it squished on the road.
Good luck with Bertha!
So glad you were able to capture some beautiful photos (love the hare) after finding the very exquisite owl dead ~ sad) but glad you photographed life all around you continuing on ~
artmusedog and carol (A Creative Harbor)
Sad about the tawny. If ever I should be lucky enough to see a lapwing I would recognize it from your blog; what a distinctive bird it is.
Be safe from the storm.
How sad about the Tawny Owl! Love the Lapwing and the Brown Hare!!! Great shots.
Love how you manage to capture the hare - right out of a children's book. So sad about the tawny.
I absolutely love owls, such beautiful creatures. Here in NZ we have moreporks more than anything but just as precious.
Awwwwwwwwww, poor thing!! It was beautiful. I'm so sad.
Oh dear, how sad.
Terrific shots, love that cute swallow.
Such a shame for the Tawny. I came across three the other night and one was on a street light of a very busy road. Just asking for trouble. Great shot of the Brown Hare.
poor little owl! love the lapwings and the swallows, but the hare stole the show!
It is very sad ... Such a beautiful bird ...
Great shots of other birds!
Best wishes from Poland:-)
A sad end but I find the extent of banding information fascinating. Nice photos and report.
Peter (Melbourne, Australia)
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