The Angry Owl

Bit tired today after a run last night - my muscles are still a bit grumbly so I  took it easy today and pottered around on a warm autumn day, shopping (i.e buying rum) and getting my annoying hair cropped.

With advancing years,  my eyebrows are becoming increasingly irritating as well. No wonder eyebrow  threaders seem to charge so much for doing whatever it is that threading is.

The Kilton Raptors were in town today, first time for a while and only three birds today. The scopps type owl looked like it was very mad at me, and was making chacky type noises with its beak.

I hate it when owls are mad at me.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 20.10.18

Kilton Raptor Rescue and More of their Wonderful Birds

Posting these pictures has somehow slipped my mind amidst very busy times. But a couple of weeks or so ago, the folk at Kilton Raptor Rescue brought their birds of prey to Newark market square once again.

The fabulous and huge eagle owl was a crowd favourite, and despite his fierce expression he adored having his head scritched.

What's over there?

Intellectual poise

Those eyes...

Deadly talons

What was also noticeable was how on a windy day, the buzzard and red tailed hawk would outstretch their wings and 'soar' while sitting on their perches.

Soaring without flying

Red tailed hawk feels the breeze

Also on view were a barn owl, tawny owl and peregrine falcon.

Peregrine gets a fussing

Barn own hunched

I hope people enjoyed the chance to get close to these birds; who knows, with raptor persecution seemingly on the increase again, how long these majestic birds will lord it over British skies?

Raptors Abound

After a few highly pleasant days sitting, running, writing and drinking tea in sunny climes, it has been very noticeable that the ever increasing local Buzzard population has taken to the skies, their tiny black broad y shaped bodies silhouetted against crystal blue skies.

And I'm not just seeing them out of town, I have been seeing them smack over my garden as I read a book and try not to get too red in the face after a long run. Two days ago, two largish raptors took off out of a nearby tree, seemed to squabble a little, before heading their separate ways. Now these birds puzzled me, they didn't fly with wings slung slightly forward, wingtips spread.

Instead their wings seemed rather "pointier", and held out at the perpendicular to the pody, which was pale underneath and had a black wedge shaped tail. Two days ago while I out running, I saw a similar bird on Millgate keening as a Buzzard does, as it was mobbed by a couple of smaller birds of prey, kestrels by the look of the build. I had already had a good look at a kestrel out of town at Cotham, sat spying on me from a telegraph pole.

So I'm probably seeing Buzzards, but the wings don't quite sit right with me.

I wonder if the Hobby and Harrier have reappeared at RSPB Langford Lowfields yet? That would make it a bumper time for raptors I could get to see, at a time when as ever they are undergoing illegal persecution.