News
Saturday, 31 October 2009
RSPB Image
Nature Notes
Already there are at least 2 short eared owls on the Cossington Meadows reserve and on Thursday evening at about 4.30 a barn owl provided a display, over the long grass. Incidentally there were also 3 grey herons already in the very dry meadow, poor voles!
This time of year is particularly good to listen out for owls, little owls and tawny owls will be trying to find and hold territories. If as it seems that there is good numbers of mice and voles then there should also be short eared, both from our own population and immigrants, coming to a rough meadow near you.
Long eared owls will also be around, but they only hunt in total darkness and best chances to see one or more is to find their roosts in thick cover of hawthorns. They seem to particularly like to roost over water, probably as protection from foxes, so check local lakes and gravel pits where the vegetation overhangs the water. Barn owls seem to be making a comeback to north Leicestershire, so as long as we due not have a very hard winter you should be able to catch up with one almost anywhere that has rough grassland, find a calm day after a prolonged wet period at dusk for your best chance.
The numbers of fieldfares seems particularly low and only small numbers of redwing are on show, but all that is due to change in the next few weeks as winter sets in and frosts harden the ground, forcing the ever growing numbers off the grass fields and into the heavy berry crops on the hedges.
November can be a busy (Christmas is coming!) bad weather period that is difficult to be out in the countryside, but it can be well worth the effort!
RO