Long-eared owls, Asio otus, are one of our most secretive and elusive birds of prey. With their distinctive ‘ear’ tufts (which are actually feather extensions for camouflage and expression), striking orange eyes, and mottled brown plumage, these medium-sized owls are unmistakable, yet they are rarely seen, as they blend so well into the landscape and prefer to secrete themselves in dense foliage during the day.
Tag Archives: #Owl
Hen Harriers, Fates and Fortunes, Part One
The Hen Harrier, Circus cyaneus, is a medium-sized bird of prey, found throughout Europe and resident in the UK. Its scientific name aptly describes the appearance of the bird, with circus, the Latin for ‘circle’ or ‘ring’, referring to the propensity of the female and juvenile birds to have white rings around their tails, (whichContinue reading “Hen Harriers, Fates and Fortunes, Part One”
Little Owls in Lancashire
In Lancashire’s rolling green countryside you can find every species of owl that is native to the British isles, even one species which some might argue isn’t technically native yet, despite having successfully bred here, the Eagle Owl. So far I’ve written about the Tawny Owl, the Short-eared Owl and I’ll get around to sharingContinue reading “Little Owls in Lancashire”
Catching moths in winter
As winter is slowly waning, the days getting longer and the nights milder, it becomes a bit more pleasant to leave the house and see what wildlife might be around in the neighbourhood, also tentatively poking its head out from hibernation and eager to get out and about. One way of doing this is mothContinue reading “Catching moths in winter”
The Short-eared Owl
The Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus, translating as ‘flame-coloured owl’, also known as the Strigid owl, is a medium-sized owl commonly found on the heaths and moors of the British isles. It is a day flying owl, a little bit bigger than a Barn owl, with longer wings and a blunter face, its plumage is aContinue reading “The Short-eared Owl”
The Wood Mouse
The Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus, (Apodemus deriving from the Ancient Greek for ‘away from home’, and sylvaticus coming from the Latin for ‘of the woods’), is a very common rodent of the British countryside and quite a handsome looking wee beastie, with a dark brown back, yellow/brown flanks, white chest and belly. They are oftenContinue reading “The Wood Mouse”
Traditional Field Barns of the Northwest of England
Traditional Field Barns of the Northwest The North of England is famous for its ancient, man-made landscape of rolling fields crossed with drystone walls and dotted, seemingly haphazardly, with stone barns which are so integral to the countryside here that it would look empty without them. Many of these barns are made from the veryContinue reading “Traditional Field Barns of the Northwest of England”
Natterer’s Bat
The Natterer’s Bat, Myotis nattereri, named after the Austrian naturalist Johann Natterer is a medium sized species found throughout the British isles. Appearance, flight and echolocation They have light brown fur on their upperbody and pale white fur underneath and their face, which is long and pink, has little fur covering. Their ears are longContinue reading “Natterer’s Bat”
Northwest Nature and History 