She was in a tree to the east of the nest tree, on the other side of the path. As you walk from the corner of the leaf yard towards the owl tree, along the path trodden in the grass, stop just before you get to the tarmac path where the bench is. One owlet was in the tree next to the path on the right side -- I am too ignorant to know what kind of tree this is (Update: thought to be a hornbeam). The next tree along the tarmac path, a lime, had the female and two more owlets in it.
The owlets are younger than previous broods have been in mid-May, and seem to have hatched several weeks later than usual.
The third one wouldn't turn round and couldn't be seen from any other angle, but at least this picture shows it was there (with a beetle).
Paul Turner found them this morning by accident as he was going to look for owls in the nest tree. He heard the owlets' begging calls, and saw the female ripping up a mouse to give them, which she had caught in broad daylight around 10 am.
The male Little Owl was in the tall lime tree between his nest tree and the one he used two years ago. We only managed to find him because I had seen him flying into this part of the tree earlier.
The Mute Swan family decided they would enjoy a bit of aggression, and came under the bridge on to the Serpentine. Here the male leads them, already in a threat posture ...
... because he has seen four swans minding their own business just beyond the bridge. He immediately attacked them full out and drove them off.
This Starling, at a nest in the two plane trees next to the small boathouses, was bringing its fledglings a piece of cake scavenged from a table outside the Lido restaurant.
When the weather is sunny and people are sitting out to eat, there is a constant procession of Starlings crossing the lake between these trees and the restaurant.
A Greenfinch was singing loudly in a holly tree next to the bridge.
Greenfinches like sitting high up in trees, and standing on the bridge gives you a chance to get nearer them than usual.
What fantastic news about the owls!
ReplyDeleteThe tree you weren't sure about Ralph looks like a hornbeam.
Thanks for the information -- have updated the blog.
DeleteGreat news. And thanks for the amusing photos of the owlets. Mum looks well , too.
ReplyDeleteOh that's great news! Thanks for the update Ralph :-)
ReplyDeleteThat's fabulous news :)
ReplyDeleteThere is rejoicing in the streets of Birmingham, and some dancing, too. Wonderful news about the Tawny owls. Well done, Paul, for your keen eye and enthusiastic dedication. And thank you, Ralph, for bringing us this splendid news and the wonderful photos.
ReplyDeleteJudy
I am so glad the female tawny owl has been seen with her owlets. I knew i had seen her and the male in their tree earlier this year but as everybody else was adamant that she hadn't been seen, even I began to doubt what I had seen! : ) awte
ReplyDeleteCorinna Smart (Eagles Eye on life)
Not such good news for mice mind! No sympathy for our mammalian class-mates, indeed our consuperordinals? ;X Jim n.L
ReplyDeleteRed in tooth and claw, that's me.
DeleteExcellent news! Glad to see the post and lovely shots of the owlets
ReplyDeleteThanks. They've vanished again today, of course. Owl finding in mid-May is very difficult.
DeleteSwan psychology: the cob has to try and ensure there is ample alga pushing up shallow enough for the pen to reach easily while he is minding the cygnets, much more of a juggle than when they are unencumbered, so the larger the area he can keep other swans out of, the better? Jim n L.
ReplyDeleteThey overdo it a bit, don't they? This pair claim the entire Long Water and would like a slice of the Serpentine too. And a decade ago the dreaded William and Mary owned the entire lake from end to end.
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