Little Owls in Airedale - a Report by Phil Matthews
Tuesday 16 June 2020 1730 – 1930 hrs
Generally bright and warm. Moderate E/NE wind
I went out tonight on my usual walk – Lady Lane, Walsh Lane then a bit of Heights Lane before turning round and retracing my route back home
I saw my first Little Owl as I came on to Walsh Lane, it was sitting into the wall in the usual field, the bird had its head down as if asleep.
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As I rounded the corner this bird could no longer be seen, but looking back at the wall from the other side another or the same bird was perched on top of the wall.
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I walked another 20 yards or so and stopped to count the Rabbits in the field. I noticed the owl had gone but could now see another bird on the far wall giving a Magpie the bad eye
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I carried on up Walsh Lane and did the part of Heights Lane I am currently doing on these mini evening walks. Then retraced my path back down Walsh Lane. When I got to the area of Four Winds I could see another Little Owl on the wall there.
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Carrying on down the lane I approached the usual field for Little Owls and could again see a bird perched on the usual wall.
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I was then observing a male Pied Wagtail and male Blackbird collecting food in the field when I spotted a Little Owl was now on the wall to my left as well.
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Walking on, as I rounded the corner I could see the other side of the main wall and spotted a Little Owl chick.
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Looking closely I could see another chick was in a cavity a bit lower down the wall, the same spot I saw them last week.
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Then an adult appeared on the wall above them.
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When I got home I tried to work out how many had I actually seen this evening and I am still not sure. It is certain I saw two adults and two chicks as I had multiple birds in view at certain times. It is possible that is all I saw, but even so it was a spectacular show of Little Owls in one outing
Report and photos by Phil Matthews
