Where's LEO?

Bird surveyor, Tom Williams has been out in the woods again looking for another rare species. This time he was looking for an owl, but not just any old owl. If asked, most people could name the tawny owl, the barn owl or maybe the (introduced) little owl, but the long-eared owl is one that many of us probably don’t know much about. It’s very elusive and only found in specific areas where dense forest meets open grassland or moorland.It was a chilly March evening when I met Tom at the forest gate at the edge of Fingle Woods. He described, “The stand of dense conifer here is the kind of habitat the long-eared owl may roost in and this rough grassland over here would possibly be a good hunting ground. They need both habitats close together because they prey on voles. This area isn’t quite as large as they might need, but it’s worth a look.”In the fading light Tom played the call of the long-eared owl; a series of hoots that echoed around the tall trees. Then silence. Another sequence of hoots was followed by silence. Tom explained that, “this should only be done within two hours of sunset to reduce disturbance.” At the next location he played the calls again and, this time, the space between the hoots was far from silent. Blackbirds called and thrushes chattered. Was something bothering them? I hoped it wasn’t us. Were they reacting to the owl call? The long-eared owl is a predator, best known for catching voles but can also take small birds. Then there was a commotion in the high branches. We both turned to see a large brown raptor disappear into the forest. No, it couldn’t be. It must be a buzzard, we thought.Long-eared owls are notoriously difficult to survey because they tend to keep quiet. A call in response to Tom’s hoots would give it away but, nothing conclusive came.Moving to the next spot the hoots were played again. By this time the evening chorus was rising into full voice. Dunnocks harmonised in the hedgerow and were followed by more thrushes playing their fluty melodies. Silhouetted trees were still visible as the Spring time darkness swiftly cloaked us. Even though Tom appears to be part-nocturnal, he said, “it’s getting dark quite quickly. It’s not like June when the twilight lasts.”In the near darkness our jaws dropped while a large dark form swooped towards us … then vanished into the deep forest. My pulse rate had suddenly gone berserk. “Was that …?”Again, there was no call to confirm. “No, of course it wasn’t!”Walking along the lane, the moon glowed weakly through a cloud. Tom played the calls again. Some geese called in the distant valley; maybe it was their tea time. And sheep were heard calling their lambs to stay safe overnight. A pair of tawny owls too-wit-too-woo’d to each other, but it was time for me to go home to bed. Walking back to my car in the near dark I couldn’t help thinking to myself, “But was it though? Was it a long-eared owl?” We’ll have to go back another time.by Matt Parkins Long-eared owls on DartmoorThe long-eared owl has been found on Dartmoor around some of the larger conifer plantations at Soussons Down and Fernworthy Forest. These roosts and hunting grounds are already known about and Chris Sperring from the Hawk and Owl Trust said, "What the results of these surveys are showing so far is how important conifer forests are for these rarely seen, nocturnal owls. Due to their elusive ways we don't know much at all about the Long-eared Owl and this lack of knowledge has meant that it isn't afforded any special legal protection or conservation status and is entirely omitted from the UK Birds of Conservation Concern List (BCC). That is why I believe it is so important to carry out these surveys and try to find out where they are and what habitats they prefer."Having lived in Wales for a number of years I love some of the Welsh names for wildlife. The long-eared owl, or Tylluan gorniog is now in my top ten of Welsh animals along with the ysgyfarnog.By the time you have pronounced it, it will have run away.I also love ravens in any language, and cigfran which means raven, but roughly translates as meat-crow, harks back to the four and twenty black birds that were baked in a pie.And, of course, a special Welsh creature that tends to live on the top of flagpoles is Y Ddraig Goch !!More information on owl calls is found here