Sunday, May 16, 2021

Over To You Padre

Blogger friend The Padre over in Grand Junction Colorado requested “more Barn Owls please.” Ever one to please I found another Barn Owl this morning. 

In broad daylight at nine am I guess the owl hunted for its mate and/or young owlets so after a few pics, I let it be. 

Barn Owl
 
Local birders are pretty much OK in realising that disturbing nesting Barn Owls is a no no because the owl has Special Protection as a Schedule 1 species. Other casual birders and/or toggers either don't know or don't care and often continue to be a nuisance, even in the breeding season.  

Members of our own Fylde Ringing Group are all covered by a Schedule 1 Permit to cover Barn Owls and other species but would never abuse that privilege for a photograph. 

Close by was a Common Whitethroat, a male Reed Bunting and a pair of Skylark. 

Common Whitethroat
 
A walk took me to fields where I found a Lapwing pair with three fluffy youngsters, spaced out behind mum. Give it a couple of days and the chicks will be large enough to find in the short sward and have legs suited to take a D ring. Another two or three adult Lapwings hunkered down in the crop while their mates chased off crows, a sure sign that these Lapwings at least are still on eggs. 

An Oystercatcher posed up for me while a pair of wild Tufted Duck looked for all the world as if they would fly off any second. Tufted Ducks in the local park become tame as mice. Here in shooting country the tufties don't much like human company and may prefer to take their chance in life with natural food and sportsmen rather than live on a diet of white bread and greasy crisps. 
 
Tufted Duck

Tufted Duck 

Oystercatcher

I found the regular Great Egret and 3 Grey Heron and just a single Little Egret rather than the eleven of last week. 

Great Egret
 
There seemed to be good numbers of Skylark with at least 6 singers and potentially 8/10 pairs once they sort themselves out.   At last, the slightly warmer weather of the last few days has spurred the Skylarks into action. 

Around the areas of reeds, water and woodland edge - 1 Swallow, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Mute Swan, 2 Little Grebe, 6 Reed Warbler and 7 Sedge Warbler. 

Back home I found a micro moth hiding against my pure white car. From a yard or two away it looked like a strand of vegetation had stuck itself onto the paintwork. Closer inspection revealed it to be White Plume, a ”micro moth” Pterophorus pentadactyla. 

White Plume

Fairly common I imagine and I'm not normally “into” moths but I have just been reading a new field guide to insects to be published in June by Princeton Press - Britain's Insects – a bargain buy of 600 packed pages £25 if ever I saw one.


Britain's Insects

Log in soon you insectophiles, There's a review of this book from a strictly neutral birder.


6 comments:

The Padre said...

Unreal - I Have No Idea Why I Am So Fascinated By Barn Owls - Such A Beautiful Capture There Brother - And At 9am - Thank You - Now, If You Could Please Inform Me Of 5 of the 6 Lottery Numbers, Will Spilt 50-50

HA - Seriously Though, The Common Whitethroat Is Perfectly Photographed, Ducks Have Always Cracked Me Up, Pun Intended, And The Oystercatcher Is A New One On Me - Way Cool - Always Enjoy Stopping By

Cheers

Rhodesia said...

I am just so jealous of your Barn owl sightings. I am delighted that they have Schedule 1 protection, I wish the birds here were more protected. Snakes are protected, but from what I have heard they shoot first and ask question afterwards! Sad.

Love the photos and that book looks interesting but I need one that covers Europe as well.

Have a good week, Diane

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

beautiful captures

NCSue said...

Great photos, all! The moth is fascinating, isn't it?
Thanks for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2021/05/i-can-fly.html

Fun60 said...

Always enjoy your barn owl photos. Ducks are always fun to watch even if they are the crisp and bread eating variety.

Veronica Lee said...

I always look forward to seeing your barn owl photos.

Love the ducks too.

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