Coldharbour Lane, Grantham - Short-eared owls

David J Wright · **Posted:** Fri Jan 06, 2012 9:27 pm

Made 2 visits to the area today:-

am
Fieldfare - 300+
Redwing - 4
Goldfinch - 20
Yellowhammer - 30
Wren - 2
Song thrush - 1
Magpie - 3
Crow - 2
Skylark - 2
Buzzard - 1
Kestrel - 1

pm
Most of the above still around - Fieldfares in several smaller groups.
Short-eared Owls - first one seen near the Hills & Hollows being harassed by local kestrel & watched for 30 minutes on occasion entering combat with a second bird. Seen closely in flight, perched on tree & on ground. Was advised by a local dogwalker that they had been in the area for 8 weeks being joined on occasion by a Barn Owl. No photographs but help has been enlisted for the weekend!!

David J Wright · **Posted:** Sun Jan 08, 2012 5:49 pm

Visited the site pm today & had good views of one short-eared owl - up to 3 birds had been on display earlier as
seen by various observers.

Steve Nesbitt · **Posted:** Sun Jan 08, 2012 6:50 pm

Good to see the 3 SEO's and meet David today, will be back and hoping for better opportunites to watch and maybe get better photographs

Freddy Johnson · **Posted:** Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:49 pm

I thought I'd check out the new Grantham SEO site today (Monday), arriving there at 2.15pm. Thanks to Steve Nesbitt for excellent location details.

By 2.35, I was watching an SEO quartering the field beyond the'top of the hill' as it showed very well, occasionally quite close, for 10 minutes. Then the same, or another, appeared just in front of me on the hill slope overlooking Grantham.

I was then joined by local birder Dave Roberts who had also been watching my 'first' SEO. We were later joined by David Morison and this thread's initiator David J Wright.

The freshening breeze kept the SEOs down until Dave Roberts picked up another one c 4.20. We also picked up a very large flock of high-flying birds, c 2000, which in due course we determined were Golden Plover.
Also around ... c 150 Yellowhammers in a flock
...a large flock of Finches which Dave Roberts will 'investigate'
...and a Sparrowhawk flew through low.

It was a pleasant if somewhat breezy afternoon's visit, and I was pleased to meet up with "the 3 Davids".

Freddy

Steve Nesbitt · **Posted:** Tue Jan 10, 2012 6:45 pm

Glad directions were ok for you Freddy

Only 1 SEO seen late on this afternoon, it was really active and covering both upper and lower fields. (2 record shots from distance in gallery)

David J Wright · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2012 6:07 pm

Single Short-eared Owl seen late on - over top field & then seemed to move to fields behind Beacon Cottage.

Usual flocks of Goldfinch/Yellowhammers - increasing flock of Linnets.

Bullfinch - pair
Song Thrush

David Morison · **Posted:** Fri Jan 13, 2012 7:35 pm

Single SEO today at 1615 over top field again. Still large numbers of Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Goldfinch and Linnet. C60 Skylark, Kestrel and a similar size flock to Freddy's of Golden Plover flying SW at some distance.

David

David J Wright · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2012 6:36 pm

Short-eared owl - 2 showing from 4.10 - seen in combat couple of occasions.
Also
Kestrel
Fieldfare - 16
Yellowhammer - 100+
Reedbunting - 10+

Song Thrush - 2 seen Sunday

Red Kite - 1 over Saturday

Steve Nesbitt · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2012 6:42 pm

Good news on the SEO's still being around David, on my last 3 visits I returned with none seen, hope to get up sometime this week, may well see you there :wink:

David J Wright · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2012 6:51 pm

Steve - good news indeed. You would have been in your element as seen on fence posts, tree & on ground.
Also seen by Dave Roberts & we had brief views of what appeared to be an especially
pale bird, but views were fleeting & it could simply have been a trick of the light - could
have been a third bird.

Katherine Birkett · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2012 3:36 am

If I catch a train to Grantham station, would anyone be able to pick me up and show me Coldharbour Lane?

David Morison · **Posted:** Sat Feb 04, 2012 12:44 am

One SEO, a very dark specimen turned up at 1545 and stayed around until at least 1630.

Also several flocks of Yellowhammer c60-70 still around in the area together with a few Reed Bunting, Goldfinch and Linnet.
Skylark 7
Buzzard 1
Sparrowhawk 1
Kestrel 1
Song Thrush 2
Fieldfare 9
Redwing 2
Green Woodpecker 1 and just too many Magpie (9)

David

Steve Nesbitt · **Posted:** Sat Feb 04, 2012 10:13 am

Katherine - sorry I am not able to assist as not sure when I finish work and usually just nip up on the off chance

David - glad you seen 1 SEO again mate if only fleetingly

Steve Nesbitt · **Posted:** Tue Feb 07, 2012 8:22 pm

Had the best time so far at Halls Hills (Hills & Hollows) late this afternoon, I saw 5 SEO's, yep 5!

For around 25 minutes from 4.15pm the birds came together all above the top field next to the 'hill & hollows' section of this area. They were mainly flying & occasionally fighting quite high up with only a few serious low level hunting sweeps.

A couple of images taken today, my best so far from this location can be seen in the gallery ....

David J Wright · **Posted:** Wed Feb 08, 2012 8:09 pm

SEO -only one bird seen, very late on.

Tawny Owl - single bird seen clearly in flight on 2 occasions.

The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Coldharbour Lane, Grantham - Short-eared owls

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