THE BIRDS OF SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE
THE BIRDS OF SOUTH
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
LONG-EARED OWL – Asio otus
As with all reports of rare and scarce birds they are subject to ratification by the respective rarities committees
It has been shown under controlled conditions that the Long-eared Owl can catch mice in complete darkness and like some other owls it has asymmetrical ear openings: the left ear opening is higher than the right. This positioning helps the bird to locate prey by sound. The hoot of the male Long-eared Owl can sometimes be heard up to one kilometre or nearly three quarters of a mile away. The word Owl comes from the Middle English word 'owle' and from the Old English 'ule' and is of imitative origin. 'Otus' has a derisory reference to 'simpleton'. Some historical names for Long-eared Owl include; Horn Coot, Cat Owl and Hornie Hoolet.
There have been around forty Long-eared Owl reported from S. Gloucestershire, they are;
1897: (2)
Sometime in this year two were noted at Frampton Cotterell (Proc. Bristol Nat. Soc. 1947, p. 243; Charbonnier, MS notes).
There are no documented reports of this species in S. Gloucestershire from 1897 until at least 1976.
1976: (4)
A number of records followed the influx from 1975; One was found exhausted at Frenchay on January 17th; Two roosted somewhere on Severnside in February, one of which was ringed on February 18th and one lingered until mid April; One was seen at Filton within the aerospace complex in May.
1984: (1)
One was seen at Oldfield Gate near Dyrham on April 20th.
1988: (2)
Two were noted at Oldbury Power Station on November 27th.
1990: (2)
On March 18th one was photographed at Severn Beach and was approachable to within 1 metre; One freshly dead on the road at Severn Beach on December 13th.
Long-eared Owl at Severn Beach. March 1990. © Paul Bowerman.
1991: (1)
A male was heard 'singing' on November 16th at Thornbury.
1992: (2)
On January 21st two were found at Cribbs Causeway and were noted on 'several' days following.
1994: (2)
A single bird was reported from Aztec West on October 21st; One was reported from Oldbury Power Station from October 12th - 16th.
1995: (2)
One was seen roosting at Oldbury Power Station on March 18th, the following day remains were found at the same site (wings & feet) and were presumed to be from the same bird; At Oldbury Power Station there were further sightings on March 25th and in April on the 1st, 8th, 12th and 25th.
1996: (c.7)
There were up to seven roosting along the bridleway at Oldbury Power Station in December, three on the 7th and 28th, four on the 14th, 20th and 21st, two on the 19th and seven on the 29th and 31st.
1997: (9)
The seven individuals recorded at Oldbury Power Station in 1996 were present at the same site until March 28th with three on March 31st, two on April 6th and one on April 12th and 22nd; At Oldbury Power Station one was noted on November 1st with two present on December 26th.
Long-eared Owl at Oldbury Power Station. Winter 1996/ 1997. © Dave Kjaer.
1998: (1)
One was reported at Oldbury Power Station on February 14th.
2001: (3)
One was noted at Oldbury Power Station in January; One was noted at Severn Beach on March 23rd and 28th; On November 4th another individual was also noted at Severn Beach.
2006: (1)
One was found roosting in a hedge at Northwick Warth on April 21st and was viewed down to two metres.
2008: (1)
One was seen on a post at Aust Warth between 17:40 and 17:45 before flying back towards the sheep field hedge; A roosting adult was present in a hedge at Aust Warth on the morning of February 9th;
Long-eared Owl at Aust Warth. February 2008. © Paul Bowerman.