Short-eared Owls

For my third visit to look for these owls this winter, I was full of optimism. This was due to it being a beautiful sunny afternoon with little wind.

My persistence paid off and I had marvellous, though distant, views of three owls quartering the rough ground to the west of Lookers Cottage. A few times a pair would rise up and spar with each other, and at one point two of them half-heartedly chased a Marsh Harrier.

As the afternoon waned towards dusk a huge flock of about 400 Lapwing flew south towards Hooe Level.