This rough ground is just north of Bickershaw Rucks which was only 10 minutes away from my front door. Rucks is a local word that seems to indicate old pit workings. These go wild and are reclaimed by nature and present good wildlife habitat.
Almost as soon as I arrived the owl did a 'fly by' right in front of the back gardens to Brecon Drive before perching in some trees opposite the school.
Shorties have distinctive mottled brown plumage with pale under-wings and striking yellow eyes that betray this as a daytime hunter. Increasingly, this species seems to be overwintering in Britain, when before most either migrated to the north English moors or to continental Europe – as an amber listed species, this is good news.
If anyone intends on going please note - wellies are essential.