No Pictures again tonight (because of yet more rain). All is well and though they are now taking longer to come in, as in over an hour to take all the food. This as apposed to 15 minutes last week, the good news is all 6 are present. It was already very overcast when I arrived at the release site and yet again pouring with rain upon my arrival. What I was really interested in this evening was again how far they were coming from and some observations of them further away from the release site. There has not been any Little Owls around this site for many years, and this fits in so many areas that seem ideal yet they have disappeared. I have documented them living within and feeding around the extensive dry stone walls of this area and these form the borders of most of the field systems, yet as mentioned before there are hedgerows and plenty of typical good pasture land. It was with interest then when one of the local Farmers mentioned to me he was watching a Little Owl perched on his dry stone wall just 2 evenings ago. This is interesting as this is just under 1 mile from the release site. According to him this is the first Little Owl he had seen in well over 10 years.
After the food had gone from
this evenings watch although now getting dark, I crept up and looked behind the release aviary which gave me reasonable view down across the fields. I managed to make out at least 3 of them perched up as silhouettes. One was on a wall about 300 meters away, another was sat out on a dead branch, whilst the last was seen through binoculars at approximately half mile away on the top of a wooden telegraph pole in the middle of a field.
Now getting too dark to see them I retreated back away from the release area, and as I was contemplating leaving a most wonderful chorus of Little owl vocalisation began. As mentioned before this is a really great sign showing some good almost aggressive behaviour meaning, they are now well into sorting themselves out. It was easier this time time pick out all 6 calling as the places they were calling from were quite far apart from each other.
Many thanks for all the e mails I'm getting about the Little Owls progress, and indeed the offers for help with monitoring them, those of you are local will be contacted as to how you can help with this. I have also had a number of questions about the release method used to which I will try and upload onto my website
www.chrissperring.com a document which will fully explain the methods used and why it gives them a better chance of establishing themselves which of course lead towards safe yet natural distribution. Lastly I have had a request about supplying a map of their progress, this as a kind of how far they are moving away etc. This is a great idea so thanks. I'm already plotting their activity of Google Earth, I could save this as a j-peg and then upload it as a picture. If anyone has any better ideas please let me know. Also I have had 2 different people ask why we did not put telemetry tags on them. I think I had already covered this, but the reason is quite simple we can't afford it, which is why we need great volunteers out helping to collect data by observations in the field, and of course its a great fun project to get involved with.
Thought that title would grab someones attention. Today the Long-tailed Tits returned to the garden, this for the first time since the end of last winter. A party of about 10-15 came into the garden and on close inspection with the binoculars, were literally hoovering up the Aphids from the plants. The 2 pictures show them in the Dwarf Cherry tree, here the black fly are massed as they stain the bark black. The Long tailed Tits were obviously enjoying their feast.
Whilst out walking in the local Woodlands both here and throughout Somerset I do get the feeling that this dainty, and very acrobatic bird has actually done well this year. I say this because they have been so noticeable throughout this early Autumn period. Seems to me its the Blue Tit that is most noticeable by its absence in any great number. It really does sum up that with these last 2 summers there has been both winners, and losers in our local Wildlife. I have already discussed Swallow, Barn Owl and Tawny Owl as losers. Yet Little Owl, Kestrel and now Long tailed Tits are all winners having done well through all the bad weather of the summer. I'm now waiting for the first of the wintering Blackcaps to return, and also the 2 magnificent Thrushes from Scandinavia the Fieldfare and the Redwing. Most people don't seem to like winter, actually I treat it the same as Summer,as winter like summer brings a difference in wildlife and like Summer I treat this seasonal change as something to look forward too, and not to get depressed about. If your reading this in Norway or Sweden or Finland, then please e-mail me, and tell me whether the Short-eared Owl's have left yet, as they will spend the winter further south. Now there is another great bird of the winter for us here in South West England. The Short eared Owl hunting, low across long grass on a winters afternoon is such a warming sight in the winter.
This pictures is one returning to the nest, which you can just make out in the background.
This Google Earth image plots the Little owls by observation on week 3-the white line =1 mile
Any of you close enough are welcome to come and see them, indeed many of you already have, and I'm very grateful for your help with the monitoring of them. Once again thanks for everyone support with this project. May I appeal for help with raising funds for the telemetry equipment we desperately need, anyone with ideas let me know via e mail.
With binoculars I could make out what was of so much interest, and that was another Peregrine. This one was making its way north to south, indeed if it were not for the first Peregrine I would have never have noticed the second. The first Peregrine closed in, as the second now began moving at speed, but it was trying to get away from the first. The first Peregrine reached a height above the second then dived at it. No sooner had the aerial battle started then it was over as the second Peregrine disappeared from view. The first Peregrine then turned back, but this time kept its height and continued on its patrol. These are the mighty hunters of the Bird of Prey world. Most people rave at watching their aerial hunting skills others however misunderstand them because they are hunters. I think its inspiring that in the year 2008 when we have so much doom and gloom in the conservation world here is bird which has recovered well and become successful after many years of repeated persecution. In my opinion there is only one other Bird of Prey that beats the Peregrine for aerial skill and that's the Hobby!