2 minute read
Our Amazing Owls
Tawny Owl
That classic hoot in the dark or the flash of white over the windshield down a dark country lane, is as close as many ever get to seeing our amazing owls. Despite the brief encounters owls definitely hold a place of wonder in our hearts. In the UK we have 5 permanent resident owls and if we are very lucky we can find all of them across Berkshire. The most common is the Tawny Owl, your classic twit a woo owl. Through winter this calling is the males, who hold the territory, calling to the females. Towards the end of summer the call changes to two males calling to defend territories from young males seeking their own patch of land. Mostly considered a woodland bird, the amazing camouflage shows this, they are also found in parks and gardens acting as our natural pest controller eating slugs and rats.
Barn Owl
Little Owl
Long Eared Owl The most striking of our owls is the Barn Owl, the amazing white shape floating over the fields early in the morning or after sunset. Their eery screech, only the Tawny says twit a woo, is enough to send shivers down your spine and it’s no wonder that Barn owls are where the classic image of ghosts comes from.
The smallest of our owls is the non-native Little Owl, introduced in late C19 this insect eating owl is one of the easiest to find, if not easy to spot in the tree, as it is a day time bird, hunting insects and generally being very characterful.
The last two are the beautiful Long Eared Owl and the transient Short Eared Owl. Both named after the tufts on their head which actually act as eyebrows rather than ears and real name is Plumicorns!
We mustn’t however forget the Snowy Owl as once a permanent resident now more of a visitor and the enormous European Eagle Owl now soon to be protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
For more information, and to see some of our amazing British Owls please do visit Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre in Moss End Garden Village.
Barn Owl in flight
