A LITTLE OWL WHILE LOOKING FOR BEARDED TITS

My good birding buddy Steve Bool and yours truly went to RSPB Newport Wetlands Reserve a few weeks ago in search of the Bearded Tit's. This species is more closely related to the Babblers and Parrotbills of Asia than the tits and is largely wholly dependant on reedbeds. They can be difficult to see though they do call frequently which especially on windy days is the best way to locate them.

It was a bit breezy the morning we went but we were hopeful that some would show. This juvenile Mute Swan kept us amused for a few minutes as we walked along the reedbeds.

juvenile mute swan

Looking over the sea wall there were a few waders mostly redshanks but they were a mile off as the tide was right out. This Curlew came in close enough for a half decent image.

curlew

It was also nice to capture this Little Grebe with a fish it must have just caught.

little grebe

Still no sign of the Beardies, it was pretty quiet there birdwise this cormorant flew by as we were searching so I grabbed a couple of images as Steve kept looking.

cormorant

It was getting a bit more breezier by now so after two circuits of the reserve and not one Bearded Tit was heard or seen we gave up the ghost and decided to have a cup of tea. We met a fellow birder Neil Hooper in the canteen and he had very briefly seen the birds but they had disappeared deep into the reeds out of the wind. He did tell us of the location of a little Owl that was showing near the bottom of the reserve so we decided to have a look at that and he was right, there were a pair of Little Owls in a tree near a nest box that must have been put up for them. We forgot the disappointment of the Bearded Tits and started watching and photographing this beautiful looking owl.

little owl

a little beauty

So although we never got to see our target species we did get to see this beautiful Little Owl, if we hadn't gone to the reserve that day we might never have seen them. Look out for my next blog where we go looking for the Bearded Tits at a different location until then thanks for dropping by and I'll catch you soon.