Cotswold Harriers & Owls

Shortie as dusk

Ring-tailed Hen Harrier

Short-eared Owl

Skylark

Shortie

Golden Plover

Team Axe

Championship winner (did not feel like it the next morning and then some) !

Alternative birding

First snow drops of spring

Last weekend I was recovering from a very random night out axe throwing in Birmingham on the Friday. I didn’t actually feel back to normal until Monday. I started off by doing my first Willow Tit survey at Hewell Grange Prison. As expected the return was zero but I did record a female Goosander, 4 Greater Spotted & a Green Woodpecker, a Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, 9 Tufties, 2 Shoveler, 2 LBBG, 3 Grey Heron & 100 Canada Geese.

In the afternoon, the Squire and I, headed to north Cotswold for a bit of owling. The weekends weather had been bleak, wet and windy so I fancied our chances given the calm conditions. We were surprised not to see any Red Kites on our journey which was a shame but as soon as we parked up a Short-eared owl was hunting the field in front of us. No matter how many times as you see them, they are so stunning to watch as they swoop & dive to feed in the long grass. We recorded three Shorties in the air at the same time whilst a local informed us there were actually four in residence. Whilst we were counting the Shorties I picked up a ring-tailed Hen Harrier come straight across the field and then started quartering looking for a kill. Seeing a Hen Harrier at any time is a special moment and one that I personally cherish. To watch the Harrier in the air with the Shorties in the stunning light was certainly making the most of the day off. All we needed next was for the local Barn Owl to appear, and as if on cue, the owl appeared and showed beautifully for the next hour. After taking a short walk for a different angle a second ring tail swooped in from behind us, a much lighter bird, and hunted the field with the longer habitat in front of us. Additional sightings included Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, 6 Golden Plover & 2 Stonechat.