With Mike McKee relocating the Tengmalm's Owl at Lea Gardens, Tresta yesterday and news of its continued presence there this morning it seemed timely to make another visit. It was good the see Brian Minshull and Ken Shaw there and also Mike, who had stayed overnight. Mike kindly attached my camera to his lens that was set in pole position so I could obtain some better images of the Owl than I managed on my visit to Tumblin with Brydon exactly a week ago. Richard Thewlis was busy painting the bird and Dave Jackson arrived from a tour of a few other locations and as dusk approached the number of observers swelled. As the Owl left its roost it duly obliged by sitting in the open on the edge of the tree before flying to another nearby. Right at dark it then flew to a tree within c.5m of the crowd before flying off low over our heads towards the house.
Tengmalm's Owl at its day roost in Lea Gardens
With grateful thanks to Mike McKee for allowing me use of his lens to obtain the above images and here's a link to Mike's twitter for his brilliant video obtained this evening.
Tengmalm's Owl at Lea Gardens, Tresta
on leaving its day roost it took on a whole new persona
today's twitch was a very relaxed affair ...
... with Richard painting and Mike photographing in the warm February sunshine ...
... all to the backdrop of a chorus of frogs!
Prey items of Tengmalm's Owls are mainly small rodents, especially voles. They also eat lemmings, shrews, mice, and moles. They occasionally take small birds, squirrels, bats, frogs and beetles.
on leaving its day roost it took on a whole new persona
Prey items of Tengmalm's Owls are mainly small rodents, especially voles. They also eat lemmings, shrews, mice, and moles. They occasionally take small birds, squirrels, bats, frogs and beetles.
