Owls - Shetland Nature Diary - March 2010

Early spring truly is a very special time of year indeed. Even though signs of spring are often slow to arrive and indeed subtle when they do, they are among the most momentous of the year. Whether it is the first Skylark in song, frogspawn in your garden pond or Celandines and primroses beginning to appear - at last, these are the signs of 'spring in the air'.

Further afield stirrings of spring have usually already sprung by the time we notice and for birds especially. March is often the month when typically we begin to see the first of the migrant species of birds passing through, most of them on there return to Northern breeding grounds. Amongst the birds you are likely to visit your garden at this time might include Robin, Chaffinch, Siskin, Greenfinch, Brambling or maybe even a scarcer Hawfinch or Yellowhammer.

The number of birds that may spend the winter here is usually a reflection of weather conditions or food distributions in their normal wintering grounds. I remember one winter several years ago when up to seven roosted in a sheltered sycamore garden, a truly awesome sight- all randomly perching on branches in one corner of the garden. It has been known for double figures to be recorded in one plantation in Shetland. They have even been recorded attempting to breed in Shetland on more than one occasion.

Like their name would suggest, Long-eared owls have prominent 'ear tufts' above each ear. These feathers, up to an inch long are nothing more that decorative features which in flight are held flat. Like all species of owl, Long-eared owls are magnificently camouflaged and can be near impossible to see whilst roosting. Unlike their shorter eared and daytime hunting counterparts, Long-eared owls are nocturnal feeders.

During the day they are most likely to roost in a secluded and often out of view corner. If found they are best left in peace, after all who wants to be woken up in the middle of a deep sleep! On a calm, clear moonlit night you may even be lucky enough to watch these majestic nocturnal hunters in action.