Owls in North County Dublin

Galvasean

Hey, just wondering what kind of owls live in the north county Dublin region?
I was walking home (Malahide specifically) tonight and spotted a white owl (wingspan maybe a foot wide) flying past. I think it may have been a barn owl. Are they native to this area?

stevensi

Could very well be a barn owl and you are very lucky to have seen one these days as they are becoming rarier. I believe in Ireland (open to correction) we have 3 owls. The barn, short eared and long eared owl. But seeing that you describe it as very pale I would say you saw a barn owl.

boneless

There is a barn owl study/survey on at present. I will post the details as soon as I can get them; but if any other good soul has them to hand please post them .

Into Everything

John Lusby, Barn Owl Research Officer from Bird Watch Ireland is studing barn owls. He is based in Bannagher, Co. Offaly. He can be emailed at the following address:

jlusby@birdwatchireland.ie

terminator2

It seems to be a bit too small to be a barn owl

BIG BANG

I was walking through the back roads of Ashbourne last evening where I came accross 2 short eared owls flying around a field hunting for prey
near Ashbourne rugby club They seem to come out in the early evening (around 6 to 6.30pm ) if anybody is interested They are lovely to watch huntingfor their food have a look at the picture attached SEOwl4A-300309.jpg

Galvasean

terminator2 wrote: »

It seems to be a bit too small to be a barn owl

It may have been bigger. How big do they get?
It's head was quit circular looking if that helps narrow it down?

boneless

BIG BANG wrote: »

I was walking through the back roads of Ashbourne last evening where I came accross 2 short eared owls flying around a field hunting for prey
near Ashbourne rugby club They seem to come out in the early evening (around 6 to 6.30pm ) if anybody is interested They are lovely to watch huntingfor their food have a look at the picture attached SEOwl4A-300309.jpg

Fantastic photograph... I applaud you!!

magicbastarder

BIG BANG wrote: »

I was walking through the back roads of Ashbourne last evening where I came accross 2 short eared owls flying around a field hunting for prey
near Ashbourne rugby club They seem to come out in the early evening (around 6 to 6.30pm ) if anybody is interested They are lovely to watch huntingfor their food have a look at the picture attached SEOwl4A-300309.jpg

i know that area well; a friend lives about a mile from the club, and has seen a barn owl a few times nearby, about half a mile from the club, other side of it from ashbourne.

BIG BANG

Thanks for your comment but unfortunatly I did not take the photo Apparently these are Short-eared Owls, so named after the very small tufts on their crown (most times impossible to see). They are a species that tends to hunt before darkness but are usually a winter visitor. These birds will move north to their breeding grounds in Scotland, Iceland and northern Europe shortly so we may only have them with us for another week or so.

Info and pic is courtesy of Eric Dempsey www.birdsireland.com

boneless

BIG BANG wrote: »

Thanks for your comment but unfortunatly I did not take the photo Apparently these are Short-eared Owls, so named after the very small tufts on their crown (most times impossible to see). They are a species that tends to hunt before darkness but are usually a winter visitor. These birds will move north to their breeding grounds in Scotland, Iceland and northern Europe shortly so we may only have them with us for another week or so.

Info and pic is courtesy of Eric Dempsey www.birdsireland.com

Thanks for being honest .

jmkennedyie

Pics of the Short Eared owls in Ashbourne were uploaded to flickr - scroll down this page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/drcarmo. Magnificant birds. they were still showing last weekend. Not sure if still there.

kimakazie

Hello to all ,in return to your above Question are the Owls still there Yes they are but for How long ? My wife and i made the journey from Co Armagh last night to see these wonderfull birds we monitored the irishbirdsnetwork to make sure they were showing and indeed the last couple of nights they were .
we rushed home from work and speed down to ashbourne and luckely we found the site quite easily we arrived at the location roughly 6-30 spoke to a couple of locals who said they were out earlier and had left , the locals left and we sat our ground outside the gate as requested by all the emails and blogs i had read.
To the right of us in the next field someone was shooting pigeons and crows right beside the houses, how he can do this so close to the public i dont know?
A couple of other people arrived Father and son and went straight over to the tree at the house we sat our ground at the gate .
at 6-55 the owl appeared and started hunting on the far side of the field and indeed started Quartering the field at this point the other two who were in the field started stalking forward trying to get closer to the owl they persisted pushing forward to my Dismay as i Knew it was the end of our viewing,we sat our ground trying to get a picture albiet from some distance, i had read the news blogs and done as i was told But not like theses two who were getting very close to the owl and only so because the own was engaged in eating on the ground and couldent see them untill it lifted and then it did see them and it was goodnight for the night .
Surely someone should be keeping an eye on these birds after all they are quite rare along with the general owl population before they are chased away with the posibility of leaving eggs to spoil because of some inconsiderate people who are ignorent to the codes of nature and wildlife and who clearly dont care about the feelings of others who just maybee traveled some distance to see the birds .
Are these birds not a protected species meaning that No One should approach them ,
I enjoyed my drive a 180 mile round trip ! as there was a wonderfull sunset to drive home in and luckily i got a short glance at the owl but i must say i will think twice about any such drive in the futere as i cant predict what IDIOT i may encounter to spoil my View,

Best Regards to all the genuine owl watchers who obeyed the rules.