Long-eared Owl & Short-eared Owl in Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire

Jimmy's Birthday so a day's birding is on the cards to celebrate with him. We decide on Frampton as it is one of our favorite reserves.

As we drive into Lincolnshire a quick call in at Deeping Lakes in the hope of seeing the Long-eared Owl that has been seen here.

A short walk round to the hide overlooking the main lake, where we start scanning the bushes to the right of the hide, it takes a long time before the Owl is spotted fairly deep in the bush but we kept the scopes on the bird and got rewarded when it moved a little bit and turned it's head to show the ear's and eyes.

Off now for a very windy Frampton Marsh, not to be the best day we have had here the wind was hard to fight against on the walk around the reserve, we do pick up a year tick when a few Ruff are seen mingling with a large flock of Golden plover.

The only other highlight was a nice female Peregrine on the floor by a fence post and a few Whooper Swans at a distance, a Kestrel rounded off the visit as it showed well as it finished off a nice mouse dinner.

In the car heading back towards home, we pop into Eldernell hoping to round the day off with more Owls.

We do just that when we see 3 Short-eared Owls within minutes of arrival only yards from the car park.

A Glossy Ibis has been seen further down the track so, of course, we set off to find it and get lucky when a birder was already on the Ibis, so a good year tick for us.

Before setting off for home we wait in the hope the Cranes will come in to roost.

It's about 40 minutes before the first 4 Cranes fly in along the tree line followed by another group to round off a good day. Happy birthday Jim and lovely to have Robert with us today.

                                                                                                                   

Short-eared Owl

Long-eared Owl

Glossy Ibis