Owl identification help please

2sounds

Hi all,

Living in South Kildare and lucky enough to have had breeding owls at the back of my house for many years. Went missing for the last few years but last night heard the distinctive squeeky gate sound from at least 2 calling juveniles. Kept my distance this morning but unusually spotted one in daylight. Apologies for the pics as was using camera phone through spotting scope..I think they are long eared, or short. Any help to identify would be much appreciated. Thanks

junospider

Long eared owl.

2sounds

Thanks for that. Seems to be at least 2 ...would the cat still be a threat do them at this age?

OpenYourEyes

Cat is always a threat to them, but hopefully they're inaccessible where they are. Long-eared owls are very underrecorded in Ireland, so its well worth reporting them to the Irish Raptor Study Group at monitoring@irsg.ie

gzoladz

Lovely!

We got one in Phoenix Park on Saturday night, but no chicks calling. Although this time we had to cut the walk short as it got very uncomfortable due to some characters there (I know what you are thinking, but we went last year a few times too an it wasn't nowhere near as dodgey as it was this time).

2sounds

Thanks for the advise re the IRSG - I will follow up with them for sure. Yes they are lovely and unlike previous years these two seem very curious. The trees are mature and very high so a long way up for the cat to get. Were conscious not to encroach but its a bit hard given the near proximity to the garden/farmyard where the kids are regularly to be found. For now they seem comfortable observing us from their high vantage point.