Owls about that then!!

Barn owls inspire awe, even if they don't always cooperate when having their photographs taken. 

Having spent most of the year systematically scanning every suitable hedgerow tree as far as the eye can see for little owls, I had a pleasant but unexpected find this weekend. The species is a bit of a local enigma from a personal perspective. For the past few years I have heard distant calls on those lazy summer nights not far from where I live, travelling across the open arable landscape, but could never pinpoint the exact location. Well the answer was right under my nose (not literally, it's not that big). A tree which a pair of local barn owls use as a winter roost (and have bred in), which I check quite regularly, but evidently not regularly enough had a pair basking in the early morning sun, above a perfect little owl hole this weekend.

If Carlsberg did trees, they would probably be the best trees in the world. A pair of little owls and presumably the female barn owl (unless I have got my territories mixed up) sharing some sunshine. 

What makes the find more interesting is the close proximity to the barn owl roost location, as can be seen in the photo. The three individuals certainly did not appear to mind sharing the tree, a fantastic old ash. It will provide a very good study and photography subject if both pairs decide to nest in the tree this year. Little owls share a similar habitat niche to barn owls in that they are essentially a bird of open farmland. They are especially found in areas which are partially cultivated and partially grassland, interspersed with old trees and farm buildings, orchards, copse, hedgerows and parkland. Little owls have a preference for much smaller holes and cavities than barn owls so the two species tend not to compete directly for nest sites (as can be seen in the photo).

Barn owls, look magnificent in the rising sun of a crisp spring morning, a good enough excuse for me to get out of bed. 

The adjacent field containing rough grassland offers ideal hunting for little owl, which usually hunt from a post or tree, unlike barn owls which can hover and quarter a site. Little owls have a much more generalist diet in comparison with barn owls, further reducing the extent in which the two species compete. Whereas barn owls are heavily dependent on small mammals, little owls feed on a wide range of insects, small birds and amphibians, especially during the breeding season. They also feed on small mammals, notably field voles and shrews. Neither barn owl nor little owl really interact, with only a few very rare incidences of barn owls predating them. It is much more normal for them to use the same building, or as in this case (hopefully) tree to breed in.   

This individual appears so relaxed around my presence he regularly hunts within close proximity, here he is attempting to grab a small mammal, he missed this time. 

The resident male is certainly getting quite accustomed to me being in his territory and now rarely takes any notice of me. He just has a frustrating habitat of sitting partially in the shade, behind hedges or in areas with chaotic backgrounds, making photography challenging to say the least. Not as challenging as the little owls, hopefully I can figure a way of photographing them close up without going near the nest site. 

Miniature dragons, the first reptile species of 2013, is the common lizard.  

It was also pleasant to see good numbers of hares, with many in pairs in the arable farmland, always distant though. I did manage to pick up the first reptile species for the year with two common lizards, too fast for photographs though unfortunately, above is a male from last year. The same can be said of common frog, which I added to the list at the weekend, but it was after dark so photo either, there will soon be plenty of both species hitting the blog no doubt.  

A brown hare on a frosty spring morning, brown hares have to make do with second place when there are owls around. 

A male kestrel, much less confiding than the owls, but another species of raptor which breeds close to the owl tree.