It’s about time we had a sightings blog from lovely St. Aidan’s – before you ask, we’re still not back on site (groan!), but we’re hopeful that the new year will bring developments. The site itself is still open, with public rights of way and bridleways covering the majority of the paths, so there are still plenty visitors there to spot wildlife – it’s also a favourite haunt of several Fairburn staff too, given that it’s only 10 minutes away!
Several short-eared owl sightings have been reported recently – these medium sized owls have streaky, mottled brown plumage, pale underwings and piercing yellow eyes. They also have rather fierce expressions, and are commonly seen hunting during the day. They breed primarily in Northern England and Scotland, and are seen more frequently in winter as we get influxes of birds from Scandinavia, Russia and Iceland. They will usually be seen hunting over open country such as grassland, which is an ideal habitat for them to find their small mammal prey. St. Aidan’s, as a large and open site with plenty of grassland, is perfect for them to forage in the winter.
Short-eared owl artwork by Mike Langman (rspb-images.com)
We’ve also had reports of barn owl sightings – these distinctive and much-loved owls are unmistakeable, and glide like ghosts over the ground in search of food. They have a striking heart-shaped face, buff-coloured back and wings and snow-white underparts. Seeing the spectral shape of a barn owl, even at a distance, is a spine-tingling and unforgettable experience – they’re definitely one of my favourite birds. Barn owls are widely distributed across the UK, absent only from parts of Scotland and Ireland, but you’re still incredibly lucky to see one, as they’re so silent and secretive in the air. Hearing one is a different matter – their screeching, ear-shattering calls are as unmistakeable as their appearance, and I certainly wouldn’t want to hear it on a dark night! (visit this page for an audio clip)
Barn owl image by John Bridges (rspb-images.com)
Over the Christmas holidays, we had the very exciting report of a male smew on the water at St. Aidan’s. These birds are winter visitors in small numbers from Scandinavia and Russia, and are commonly considered to be the handsomest duck there is. It’s easy to see why, as the males boast pure white plumage with a striking black mask and bold black back – they are very dramatic looking birds. Hopefully we’ll be spotting at least one or two at Fairburn in the coming weeks, as they usually visit within the period from December to March.
Male smew artwork by Mike Langman (rspb-images.com)
Have you seen any amazing wildlife at Fairburn Ings or St. Aidan’s lately? Please let us know!