Counting Owls

I still have photos from earlier in the week to post, but I was back at Sheepcote Valley this morning (it was sunny) and had a very brief but exciting owl encounter. I’d gone down to the east of the valley (yesterday I gone south and seen nothing) and thought I was out of luck once again. I’d forgotten that short-eared owls spend a lot of time on the ground.

I’d crossed the golf course and was tramping through some bramble rough when an owl emerged ahead of me, taking off across the lower valley. Then another, moving towards the race course. And a third… and fourth. Yes, four short-eared owls in a matter of moments! The speed with which they departed meant getting photos was a struggle, but I got a couple of one of the owls as it flew below me.

Short-eared owl at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton
Short-eared owl at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton
Short-eared owl at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton
Short-eared owl at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

I caught up with one of the others, perching in a tree.

Short-eared owl perching at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton
Short-eared owl perching at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

Now for a couple from earlier in the week.

Short-eared owl in flight
Short-eared owl in flight
Short-eared owl hunting
Short-eared owl hunting
And success! Here it is with a vole.
And success! Here it is with a vole.

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens.

This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Darko

    4 Mar 2016

    Wow, it seems they like the area. I’ve never seen more than one owl at a time except in zoo 😀

    1. Words

      6 Mar 2016

      Darko, that was certainly the most I’ve ever seen. My previous ‘high’ was ‘One’! 😆

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