I'd like to start this post by letting you all know that spring is apparently cancelled this year and has been replaced with a snowy, blustery storm front.
Ok, so that is not strictly true. Considering spring isn't officially here until 20 March, then there's still a bit of time for this wintry weather to start cleaning up its act. Although I do sometimes wonder if the avocets have any egrets about arriving at this time? Hahaha. Get it? Egrets? Regrets? Right...so...moving along.
Coincidentally, this weekend sees the final big 'spring' tides of the winter, with our planned Parkgate High Tide Raptor Watch events set to go ahead on both Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 March. Obviously, the current weather conditions are not, for most people, conducive to standing around outdoors waiting for birds to fly past, plus the fact that the easterly airflow will undoubtedly suppress the rising tide and keep it from flooding the marsh and reaching the sea wall. Yet we'll be there regardless - for at least as long as we can bear the cold - and hope to wow you with the volume and variety of birds of prey that have called the Dee Estuary reserve their home for the winter. Full information on the events can be found here.
Parkgate High Tide event by D.Trotman
A 'successful' spring high tide provides a spectacle of nature at its most savage. It is truly amazing to watch, but not for the faint of heart. So whilst due to the Beast from the East we can't promise the cherished frenzy of raptors, gulls and herons attending a winter all-you-can-eat buffet, various raptors will still be hunting as on any day, picking off small mammals and small birds being pushed around the saltmarsh by the tide. This winter has already been memorable for the birds of prey wintering on the estuary; up to five hen harriers, 14 marsh harriers, good numbers of peregrines and merlins plus possibly into double figures of one of our most coveted winter visitors, the short-eared owls.
Speaking of which... followers of our Twitter feed (@RSPB_BurtonMere) will have seen no shortage of breath-taking photos of these magnificent beauties over the past few months, taken not just on high tides at Parkgate but also far more frequent occasions across Burton Marsh. And although these are the bird du jour of recent times this doesn't mean they are the only owl species to show up. I have therefore decided to dedicate the second part of this post to them.
Short-eared owl flying over Burton Marsh by Sam Ryley
The UK boasts five different species of owl and ALL of them make their home on the Dee Estuary reserve. I think many would agree with me when I say the tawny, little, barn, short-eared and long-eared owls are rather majestic-looking creatures. Often shrouded in mystery and associated with writings of folklore and witchcraft, these flat-faced beauties are also fierce predators, preying on a range of species from small insects to (in some cases) other birds.
The tawny owl is the most prevalent owl in the UK and perhaps the only type that actually makes the familiar “too-wit tw-oo” noise that people generally associate with the species. It is actually quite a small owl, pretty much the same size as a pigeon. Despite being the most common of owls, it is rarely actually seen, due to the nocturnal nature of the bird and the fact it can blend in so well to its background. In urban areas, it is more likely to feed on small birds, whereas in woodland areas it prefers to seek out more rodent species.
Sleepy tawny by Roy Lowry
Just like its namesake, the little owl is a small plump owl with a flat head and a frowning expression. It generally feeds on insects and the small size means that they themselves can sometimes become food sources for other hungry owls and raptors. The little owl has been widely documented in Greek mythology and it was often known to accompany Athena, the Goddess of wisdom. Interestingly enough, the Latin name of the little owl is Athene noctua.
That hole is too small even for you! Little owl by Roy Lowry
The ghostly barn owl is easily distinguishable from other owls by its white underparts and heart-shaped face. Its diet is almost completely ground-based mammals which it locates through precision hearing. Unlike other British owls, the barn owl makes a piercing shrieking noise and this has put it under the banner of a 'screech owl', despite not being related to any of these American-based owls. Although nocturnal in nature, it is not unusual to see the barn owl searching for food at dawn and dusk or even during daylight hours during periods of cold or wet weather.
The short-eared owl belongs to the same genus as the long-eared owl. For anyone who wants to get really fancy, a genus basically encompasses a group of species that are very closely related. Although it does breed mainly in Scotland and Northern areas, it is also a frequent visitor to the rest of England during the winter months. Favouring open plains to trees, it builds its nest on the ground. The flight pattern of the short-eared owl is unique and almost 'moth-like', and unlike the other British owls is very much active during daylight hours, hence making it such a draw for people to watch.
The long-eared owl is a reclusive bird (this is why it's so exciting there have been sightings at Burton Mere Wetlands). It is often confused with the great-horned owl, although fortunately we don't have that issue here as the great-horned owl is native to the Americas. The long-eared owl is distinctive through its long tufty ears – as the namesake suggests. It will nest in plant hanging baskets that have been adapted specifically for owls.
So there you have it. A brief but fascinating overview of our British owls. Next time you're visiting the reserve - be it at Burton Mere Wetlands, Parkgate or most likely on the Burton Marsh Greenway alongside Burton Marsh - you may be lucky enough to get a glimpse of one of them. Right now they're probably sheltering in a tree somewhere. Not unlike myself really - aside from the tree part. Wonder if trees are comfy? Hmmm...