99 Without The Flake

Having got some detailed directions to the location of the Short-eared Owls at Bransbury, I set the alarm for 5.50am on Friday morning and headed off in the darkness. After a 25 min trek from the Car to the given location I arrived about 6.35am, already the light gaining on me fast, it proved too fast really as a pair of Barn Owls were already out hunting as I emerged from the path on to the common. Waiting till they disappeared I crept further up the fence-line to the recommended spot overlooking the River Dever and the distant River Test. A Short-eared Owl soon joining me in the same field before quickly disapeering

My mornings Owl spotting was soon interrupted however by the local Deer Stalker who trundled up the River bank in front of me, seemingly spooking said Owls as I never saw them again. A couple of Buzzards flew over the area unperturbed, and just as I began to think about packing up and heading off to work at 7.15 am a Ring-tailed Hen Harrier glided over the top of the grasses in the distance. Number 99 on my bird Species list for 2012 and the first I've seen in England let alone Hampshire.

With the weather marginally better in the afternoon I headed down again, finding an alternative entry footpath and reducing the walk too around 10 mins. With Camo hide setup I enjoyed some cracking views of 4 Short-eared Owls and 1 Barn Owl for a good couple of hours. The light however preventing any of the photographs to anything more than a Noisy blur.

With Sundays afternoon awash in beautiful golden sunlight, and the weekends work moving just about done, Nat and I headed down and were setup again in my hide by 4pm, the first Shortie showing around 15 mins later soon joined by another 2. With both Rivers in between getting closer to them is a bit of a task especially as it seems like private ground, so all photos are from the edge of the common quite a distance away, some cracking views mind!

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl