The last couple of winters have been excellent for Short-eared Owl, as folks have already said, mostly due to good numbers arriving from Scandinavia, over 50 were seen coming in off the sea at Titchwell in Norfolk on one day last year. Vole numbers vary year on year and last year was a good one hence the number of birds that have appeared, and a mate of mine who rings in Norway also had record numbers of Tengmalm's and Pygmy Owls going through his site, but sadly none carried on over here, well unless Spurn are keeping another one quiet ;0)
Buzzard numbers have increased largely due to reduced (not a lack sadly) of persecution, if only Hen Harriers weren't persecuted then they too would become more common. I live in Norfolk where Buzzards used to be a scarce winter visitor, now we see them daily, the forthcoming BTO Atlas will certainly be interesting reading!
Dave Thacker said
Thu Jan 19 4:36 AM, 2012
When I was younger I spent a lot of time watching bird migration at Spurn point. In one afternoon I saw a total of 8 SE Owls fly in off the sea and in most cases the birds crashed exhausted into the undergrowth after their long flight across the sea
JOHN TYMON said
Thu Jan 19 4:04 AM, 2012
Nick Isherwood wrote:
Pete, the numbers of these owls fluctuate year by year. Mostly its down to the amount of food available to them ie. Voles. When food is abundant and they have a good breeding year and then we see good numbers of them. Similarly, when food isn't so easily come by the owl numbers suffer.
as well as what Nick says there are many that come from scandanavia in winter ,i have seen them come in off the north sea in numbers,some years are better than others,at one time they were fairly common site at penny as well
Nick Isherwood said
Thu Jan 19 3:54 AM, 2012
Pete, the numbers of these owls fluctuate year by year. Mostly its down to the amount of food available to them ie. Voles. When food is abundant and they have a good breeding year and then we see good numbers of them. Similarly, when food isn't so easily come by the owl numbers suffer.
Pete Astles said
Wed Jan 18 6:53 PM, 2012
Are these becoming more common just there seems to be a lot about they are on a lot of the sightings threads and not just one sometimes 3 or up to 8 or more. I often wonder about Buzzards 20 years ago if you saw one in the lakes or Wales they were noteworthy now I see them out of my back window daily I wonder why that is do they suddenly adopt more flexible feeding habits and assuming there are more short SEO about I wonder why?
-- Edited by Pete Astles on Wednesday 18th of January 2012 06:54:13 PM
Buzzard numbers have increased largely due to reduced (not a lack sadly) of persecution, if only Hen Harriers weren't persecuted then they too would become more common. I live in Norfolk where Buzzards used to be a scarce winter visitor, now we see them daily, the forthcoming BTO Atlas will certainly be interesting reading!
as well as what Nick says there are many that come from scandanavia in winter ,i have seen them come in off the north sea in numbers,some years are better than others,at one time they were fairly common site at penny as well
-- Edited by Pete Astles on Wednesday 18th of January 2012 06:54:13 PM