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| Des Res in the Owl Wood |
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| Borrowed image |
I am woefully ignorant about Jackdaws so I came in and dug out some old bird books to do a little research - books make a nice change from the internet. Smaller than rooks these birds are social and gregarious. They eat mainly molluscs, insects, and worms and they are particularly fond of sheep ticks and will sit on the back of sheep and pick them out. They are also quite keen on eating the young of other birds.
They often make their nests in cliff faces, woods, or ruins usually making use of holes or cracks in trees or masonry, although they will sometimes build open nests in a wood. They normally build a stack of sticks and then line the cup with wool, fur, horse hair or grass. All of which is readily available around here.
The average clutch is four to six eggs. According to the books eggs are normally laid towards the end of April, so these are a little early - probably due to that exceptionally warm weather a week or two ago.
Three years ago we had three of these delightful creatures hatched and grown in the box - which was so special and exciting. Perhaps one day we'll have the privilege of seeing some more.
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| An Owl Wood Tawny |
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| Another Owl Wood Tawny |
Don't they look woolly and cuddly - watch out for their claws though!
In the evenings and during the night I often hear the call of both a female and a male Tawny Owl, so I had real hopes of a romance and some owlets. Ah, well. I'll keep you posted.
I found my first bluebell of the year today - isn't that a wonderful blue!
So exciting! What a nice header you have.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Elna
Hello Elna, I'm so pleased you like it - the cat is Sparky.
DeleteOwlets!! That would be exciting. There is a rare bird here (Eastern Loggehead Shrike)..if a pair is nesting on our land we receive a gold pin! This pits neighbour against neighbour..if we have a nesting pair we'll have to keep vigil unless a neighbour with a lust for gold pins gets wind of the nest!
ReplyDeleteJane x
Hi Jane, I'm happy for the Jackdaws - but the Tawny owlets are so much more cute. I must look up your Eastern Loggehead Shrike - it must be very special. Good luck with the gold pin!
Deletelovely post... I love your affinity with the outdoors!
ReplyDeleteHi John, Thank you - it is something (else) we have in common!
DeleteAll the best with the nest box-finger crossed!
ReplyDeleteHi Green Dragonette, I think the biggest problem will be the cats when the birds fledge. I won't think that far ahead as there is nothing I can do about it!
DeleteHello Elaine....The bluebells are exquisite! Wouldn't a gauzy summer skirt be beautiful in that color?
ReplyDeleteHi Meggie, No luck with the gauzy skirt - but I did manage to find a cardigan for my Aunt - she requested navy blue, but I've bought her one in that pretty shade... fingers crossed that she likes it!
DeleteI'm hoping you get a nesting pair of tawny owls in addition to the jackdaws. Wouldn't that be a feather in your cap! (pun intended)
ReplyDeleteHi Ms Sparrow, My cap needs a few new feathers since the cats got to it. The Owl people did say it was possible that the Tawny's may take the box over after the Jackdaws - so we may see some owlets yet.
DeleteLet's hope that you will have some owls nesting again sometime. It must have been very exciting to watch the owlets. We hear owls in our area but rarely ever see them.
ReplyDeleteHi Jenny, It was such a wonderful experience when the owlets hatched. We saw them weighed and measured and then ringed on another occasion - it was such a treat to watch their progress. Do you have owl boxes?
DeleteThe Tawny Owls really are quite interesting - so wooly looking, as you said. Nice that you can hear them at night. That would be a treat in itself. I hope they come back to nest in the box sometime in the future. But the Jackdaws sound interesting too.
ReplyDeleteHi Evlyn, I love hearing them through the night - two very distinctive calls, the male call and the female. We are also lucky to have a large and beautiful barn owl who patrols the hedgerow each evening - a truly magnificent bird.
DeleteLove the owls, but jackdaws are nice too. And bluebells were my mother's fav flower. They don't grow here.
ReplyDeleteHi Knatolee, The bluebells are on the verge of blooming - we have a bluebell wood just down the road - it is usually a mass of them and people come from all over to visit. Once that looks good I'll go and photograph it for you, they are spectacular and I can understand why your mother would love them.
DeleteThe bluebells are a gorgeous color. I found this interesting about Jackdaws: "Jackdaws are unique among corvids in their pale blue eyes." A blue-eyed bird, interesting. I'm fascinated by owls -- best personal book on owls: Wesley the Owl. Quite interesting information on owl behavior.
ReplyDeleteHi Janet, You are absolutely right, they do have pale blue eyes - quite startling given their dark plumage. They are a handsome bird. My copy of Wesley the Owl has been despatched and should be with me in a day or two. Thanks for the information.
DeleteWe have a resident Tawny that patrols the plots. You can just see him in the half-light of dusk. I'm going to see if I can rig up the trail cam this summer and get a shot for you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Elaine. Here's my email. etch@innotts.co.uk
Hi Chris, That would be brilliant! We saw the young'uns, but we didn't see the adults at all. We still hear Tawny Owls, luckily they have a very distinctive pair of calls, but never see them, so it would be lovely to see a shot of your owl.
DeleteI don't think I've ever seen a jackdaw. Thanks for sharing this. Can't wait to see your pics!
ReplyDeleteHi Mitch, Fingers crossed that we are home when they come to weigh and ring them. I wonder how many will hatch and survive!
DeleteWe hear the Tawny Owls calling in the woods around us which is a lovely rural sound. Jackdaws come to the garden in small flocks, their iridescent neck feathers shine in the sun which makes them beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHi cuby poet, We haven't seen much of the Jackdaws so far - no doubt that will change when they are whizzing about feeding the young. I look forward to it!
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