Short Eared Owl

 

 
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The birds above were present at Hawling, up in the Cotswolds, during the 2008 - 2009 winter months, and these pictures were taken in poor light in early January. There are at least 4 Short Eared Owls present, and a pair of Barn Owls may also be seen over the same fields.

 

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Short eared owls sweep silently across rough grassland in the late afternoon in search of their prey of small rodents, predominantly voles. They are a medium sized owl with long wings, perhaps most often seen in autumn and winter. This bird was found on Aust Warth, between the two Severn bridges in late October, 2007.