25/03/2025 Bourne, Lincolnshire

Dark-breasted Barn Owl: The barn owl which occurs in Britain belongs to the race Tyto alba and is separated into over 30 subspecies, the nearest of which is present in Central and Eastern Europe known as Tyto alba guttata, also described as the dark breasted barn owl.

The barn owl that we have in Britain is unmistakable with its ghostly white Tyto alba guttata plumage shows darker oranges and brown, buff underparts, extending right down onto belly, legs and under tail. 

They have extensive dark markings around the eye, spreading out across the facial disc and extensive grey markings over the entire upperparts, with clearly more grey than buff visible. 

 

The barn owl is not only the world’s most widely distributed species of owl, but is also one of the most widespread of all birds, as it is found on every continent except Antarctica. Though they occur throughout the tropics, they avoid areas with cold winters. Scotland has the most northerly breeding barn owls in the Northern Hemisphere.

The dark-breasted barn owl is a very rare vagrant  to Britain with less then 13 records. This bird has taken up residence ear a small Christmas tree plantation in Bourne. A very nice bird to have caught up with, and one I would urge anyone who hasn't seen it yet to go for it. It's a striking looking bird. 

22/03/20205 Undisclosed Location, Scotland

Capercaillie: First of all let me make it clear, this bird was observed with the upmost respect, off a unrestricted public path that was well used by dog walkers and cyclists during the time we were observing the bird. Also this bird was photographed outside of the the Lek It Be guidance, not to visit capercaillie lek sites during April and May when the birds are lekking (gathered to mate). From the April the 1st to 31st of August, when capercaillie are breeding and raising their young, birders and photographers should avoid capercaillie areas if they can. 

I think it's important to state this, not only to cover my own back in a way from any naysayers and pot stirrers, you know the keyboard worries who don't engage positively in any post, but seek to undermine. But also, to shine a light on the good work that the Lek it Be campaign are doing and to reduce any potential impact on capercaillie, by spelling out their guidance.

These impressive beasts are the largest member of the game bird family and resides exclusively in the pinewoods of Scotland. Male cappers are mainly grey in colour and have reddish-brown wings with a white patch on the shoulder. The head, neck and breast are tinged with blue, and the eye is fringed  by a ring of red skin. Males also have a “beard,” that is most noticeable during courtship displays, and a broad fanned tail. 

This bird was aggressively pumped up with testosterone and with it's wings pointed down, tail flared and beard bristling it was busily charging at dog walkers, cyclists and even a jogger!

We kept our distance, and respected the birds boundaries backing off when it approached.

One thing that struck me was how respectful the other passersby were acting, with most of the dog walkers stopping and moving through the woods the avoid part of the public track the bird was occupying or dismounting and walking past the bird more gracefully and light footed then just speeding by. 

Capercaillie make full use of a varied pinewood habitat. In winter the birds need pine trees for food and in summer good ground cover of shrubby vegetation for nesting and chick rearing. This reliance on, and exacting needs of, a varied but specific habitat led to their extinction in the past when the forests were destroyed by people. Though hunting played a part, it probably only accelerated the inevitable process. 

Today, as detailed above, capercaillie are under threat from various factors but not least because of reduction of their favoured habitat. Research has shown that capercaillie densities are highest in semi-natural woodland. Despite this, 60% of the population are found in plantation type woodlands, because there is not enough undisturbed native pinewood habitat left to support a majority of the capercaillie numbers.

All capercaillie in Scotland are from Swedish stock, as the species became extinct in Scotland in 1785. The population has halved in recent years and a variety of threats including habitat loss and fragmentation, birds flying into deer fencing and chick mortality due to wet and cool weather now face this species.

As part of the Lek It be guidance I will not be including any information about specific site locations in the post and I will not be or sharing any information regarding the birds location.

06/03/2025 Parkend, Gloucestershire

Hawfinch: I had a few days in Chepstow with work event and managed to get out and do a mini twitch for the famous Parkend hawfinch which was around 30 minutes up the raod from where I was staying.

Hawfinch are a declining woodland bird, but do have a stronghold in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. Trees such as hornbeam and wych elm that produce a high amount of seed are particularly important for hawfinch.

These tree species are becoming less frequent within and is creating food shortages, so conservation and woodland management charities have been working to plant more of these seed-rich trees in the Forest of Dean, to be able to give hawfinch better access to food throughout the year and stabilising the hawfinch population across the Forest of Dean.

One of the best places across the whole of the UK to see these birds is at Parkend, a small village, located at the foot of the Cannop Valley. Close to the cricket pitch lies a row of mature yew trees situated close to a road where. you can park, wind down the window and see the birds at close range without disturbing them. 

My main tip is to "stay in your car" there's no need to get out and spook them, you can get some sensational views and photos from the car. 

When I arrived there were  four cars already parked up and positioned and I managed to find a space and almost immediately a male and female hawfinch landed besides the car. 

I've seen dozens of hawfinch in my time, but never like this, never at such a close range. I had five birds possibly six, two females and more male birds with one mighty aggressive male that was chasing most of the other males away from the ground.

The hawfinch has a large, cone-shaped bill that's strong enough to crush cherry stones. Its bill is its most striking feature. The hawfinch's bill is oversized and powerful and can exert a pressure of over 150 pounds per square inch. This is enough to crush an olive stone, and the equivalent of a thousand times its own weight!! crazy!!