It took me an hour and a half to get to Farlington this morning when it should normally take thirty minutes, the traffic was horrendous. I was still wound up about as I left the car, and so distracted I had to make to return trips before I could successfully head off along the sea wall. Fortunately it was one of those glorious mornings that can turn Langstone Harbour into a beauty spot. A photograph also filters out the noise and smell of the traffic.
A Little Egret was hunting the channel alongside the sea wall and the water was so still it had a lovely reflection.
After the show put on yesterday by the Short-eared Owls I was heading to Point Field and was not too interested in the duck and waders on the Lake. As I made my way around the bends I thought I saw an owl above Point Field, but as I turned the last bend before the field, there is a small pond and a Short-eared Owl was hunting over the rough ground there. I stopped immediately and used the bramble on the sea wall as cover and so started wat would turn out to be an incredible day with the Short-eared Owls of Farlington Marshes.
There were in fact two birds hunting and I could still see one over Point Field. Both were intent on the hunt, but didn't come too close, instead following a pattern as they hunted over the dead vegetation areas.
Beautiful morning sunshine highlighting those yellow eyes.
Hunting around the cattle.
Then, as invariably happens they attracted the attention of the Carrion Crows and this forced them high up into the sky, this was an opportunity for me to slide into the grass on the side of the sea wall.
At times I was concerned they would head back to Point Field, but slowly they made there way back towards me.
Hovering and gliding over the marsh.
From my position in the grass I became head on with one owl.
It then did what I had hoped, it kept coming closer and closer.
Twists and turns and something in the grass below.
It circled round and at one point just headed straight at me until it realised I was there.
A closer crop of those amazing eyes as they search the ground long with the hidden ears.
As always it was a privilege to be in the presence and so close.
An amazing background was also created by me being so low, with the colours of the buildings
And the chalk pits of Portsdown.
Some more close ups and a focus on the facial disc, the yellow eyes and the beak with its shroud of feathers.
It flew past me once more and headed along the sea wall where it then banked and returned towards me.
Gaining height it brings the unmistakeable colour of Fort Widley into the background.
The classic hold and hover, using the facial disc to aid with listening for any sign of prey.
Gliding as it comes back around.
And away across the marsh and then banking to the east and back towards Point Field.
I caught up with the other birders that had gathered around Point Field and was still buzzing from the experience I had just had. Others fortunately had good views too and we stood looking out across the marsh in the sunshine and the distant clouds gathering over the South Downs.
The owls seem to follow a pattern, appearing early in the morning until around 10:00am when they seem to go to roost and then start to appear again around 14:00, obviously the weather has an influence but yesterday in drizzle and dull conditions they showed well.
True to form they dropped from sight and other than a brief view when th ecrows found one were not seen for quite a while. Like yesterday the tide was high and waders were circling around above the water trying to find a dry roost site. The weather was also changing, Storm Ciaran was due tomorrow with strong winds and rain and the skies were beginning to show signs of change.
Even more dramatic in black and white.
I decided to walk around the sea wall with the aim of being back at Point Field by 14:00. The concern was that with the very high tide the wind had picked up appreciably and might restrict the owls hunting. Grey Plover were moving everywhere and flying over as they looked for a safe roost.
Some were happy to use the new island that had been built on the Deeps.
There was very little else until I reached the Stream where I heard Bearded Tit and disturbed some Greenshank, looking north there was blue sky turning the stream blue, but behind me the cloud was winning.
I stopped at the View Point over the Lakes for lunch, Pintail were starting to leave the Lake and heading out to the harbour.
A Kestrel was hunting along the sea wall, the same Kestrel as seen the day before, a female.
And so it was back to Point Field for the main attraction at around 14:00 and right on time there were owls. As I approached I could see one again over Point Field and two out on the marsh.
The owls over the marsh were a little distant and so I made my way to Point Field when one owl did not disappoint. Holding itself in the breeze, that had just started to ease a little, to check the grass below.
Clearly a little breeze helps considerably with the hover.
A fly around once more, but coming back to the same spot in front of me and this time I was standing on the sea wall with many others.
Something was definitely of interest.
Then as it stopped to hover again I hoped it would adopt yet another position I have not been able to capture.
The legs were dropping, feather covered they do look very much like, as someone commented, rabbit feet.
And then for some reason it looked straight at us on the sea wall.
Finally dropping the legs to help maintain the hover in the breeze.
This was a seconds experience, but another wonderful one
Then away again, incredible.
There were some more circuits of Point Field, over the bramble and gorse.
I went to follow, but to be honest I was beginning to wonder if I could better the experiences I had today. The light was getting duller so I just watched as it glided over the marsh and away.
I decided then that It was time to call it a day, many people were coming around the sea wall to see the owls and as I passed them I couldn't help thinking that I had been so lucky today, some great views and so close, the only one downside was that I was not able to share it with my mate Ian, still I will be happy to come back with him and try all over again, I am sure they will still be here.
So there you have it, it is not often I devote a blog post to just one species and with so many photographs, but that is what Short-eared Owls do to you. A really special day.
