This weekend... watch out for owls

Everyone loves owls. This weekend, why not try to see a real, wild one?

Unfortunately, we can't promise a snowy owl like Harry Potter's beloved Hedwig (though you can get a small, fluffy one from our shop!). But luckily, there are a few other species that are easier to see in most parts of the UK.

What to look for

At the moment there are quite a lot of short-eared owls in the UK. They're bigger than barn owls, and a creamy-buff colour with brown streaks and spots. Watch out for those piercing bright yellow eyes! 

Every autumn and winter, our resident short-eared owls are joined by visitors from Europe. At some places which have ideal habitat and food, you might be lucky enough to see several owls. They are a bit prone to having their prey stolen by kestrels, though!

Barn owls can be seen in many parts of the UK all year-round. They're paler than short-eared owls but often look white, especially when glimpsed in the headlights of a car. It's well worth paying a visit to a reserve where you can watch them hunting at length. They seem to float over the ground, stopping to hover and look for prey before dropping down into the grass to pounce on a tasty rodent. Magical!

The third owl species you might be able to see easily is the little owl. They don't have a graceful flight, but do have regular perches where they like to rest during the day. That might be against the trunk of a gnarly old tree, or on top of a farm building. Like short-eared owls, they have an icy glare which could freeze your blood at a thousand paces.

Where to see them

Lots of our nature reserves are good places to see owls. Or you could try somewhere different. Places with rough grassland are often good for watching owls and birds of prey, as there's plenty of prey - voles and mice - to be found there. If you're going owl-watching, wrap up warm and stay as quiet as you can. Your patience may be rewarded - hunting owls can often fly to within a few metres if you keep still.

Let us know what you see!