22/06/2025 Undisclosed Site

Long-eared owl (female): The long-eared owl is a very striking bird thanks to its long ‘ears’, which it raises when alarmed. The species is medium in size with a wingspan of 95cm, and lives in dense woodland.

It can be confused with the similar-looking and similarly named short-eared owl, particularly when the long-eared owl has its tufts of feathers laid flat on its head. However there are some key identification features to tell the difference between the two species.

Long-eared owl (owlet): They are most associated with coniferous woodland, hedgerows, shrubby thickets and preferring tall scrubby habitats during the breeding season, favouring sites where dense nesting cover is located close to open areas that are used for hunting. 

I've been monitoring these owls for a while and happy to say that the two chicks are doing well, they have developed their adult feathers and no longer look like grey fluff balls. 

Long-eared owl (male): The long-eared owl is one of four native owls in the UK, and one of five resident species here (the additional non-native resident species is the little owl).

During the owls breeding cycle, it is the male that does most of the hunting; depositing prey at the nest before egg-laying begins, providing the female with sustenance during incubation and providing the bulk of the prey for the young birds.

20/06/2025 Audenshaw Reservoirs, Greater Manchester

Surf Scoter: I just had to share these record shots of this mega rare local bird. This is the first time this species has ever been recorded in Manchster. These are a rare visitor to Britain and Ireland, with most records between October and March. They are a North American species that migrates to British and Irish coasts outside of the breeding season. 

So to get on inland is pretty rare and unusual, but to get one in Manchester in June is simply crazy!