I just came across a series of photos I mean to post earlier in the year and then add to our ever-growing collection of photo-galleries, but, what the hey, I’ll post them now. Unseasonal they may be, but I think they’re interesting nonetheless. I don’t suppose many of us will be seeing Short-eared Owls this weekend, but when we’re getting ready to go “owling” in the winter and want a little reminder what a “shortie” looks like in flight, hopefully these will help!

 

Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
Portland Bill, Dorset, UK. January 2008

The lovely Short-eared Owl is found all around the world with the exception of Antarctica and Australia, but in Britain - where according to the RSPB between 1000 and 3500 pairs breed - it’s more likely to be seen in northern areas until the winter when an influx of continental birds swells the population to as many as 50,000 individuals, and the species becomes much more widespread. Its preferred habitat is - as here on Portland, Dorset, where some years as many as ten Short-eared Owl winter - open, rough ground, which is often sloping to give a good view of the surroundings as it roosts. It also frequents young conifer plantations in search of voles (its chief prey), but once the trees are big enough to affect the grass underneath the owls move off.

Of the British species of owl this is the one most likely to be noticed during the day. Most British owls are either nocturnal, like the Tawny Owl and Long-eared Owl, or crepuscular like the Barn Owl, but the Short-eared Owl (along with the far smaller and less conspicuous Little Owl) is partly diurnal and - especially in winter - can often be seen flying buoyantly and almost casually as they drift along in a low, gliding flight, suddenly swooping on any prey they might spot.

The natural enemies of the Short-eared Owl are mainly larger predators - notably Snowy Owls, where their ranges coincide. Typically though the only serious threats to the Short-eared Owl are man made. Habitat destruction or changes in land-use management impact potential breeding sites, and persecution by landowners - especially where pheasants and grouse are reared for shooting - is a threat from which all birds of prey suffer and the Short-eared Owl (sadly) is no exception.

 

Short-eared Owl, Dorset

In the UK, to separate Long-eared Owls from Short-eared Owls in flight look for a pale lightly-streaked belly contrasting with the streaked head and chest, a broad white trailing edge to the wing, neater, more distinct barring on the uppertail, upperwing and under the wing tip and the yellow, rather than orange, eyes. Short-eared Owl vary from a light biscuit-brown to a darker-toned brown but never shows the warm rufous or very dark tones of a Long-eared Owl.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-eared Owl, Dorset

 

Confusingly North American wilsonianus Long-eared Owls also show distinctively yellow eyes, but note the darker tones, heavily-streaked underparts (and of course on a perched bird the visible long ‘ears’). I photographed this bird in tamarisk trees at the well-known roosting site at Mercey Hot Springs in California’s Panoche Valley.

Long-eared Owl Asio otus wilsonianus, California

 

All photographs copyright Charlie Moores