Scozmo's Photery

Towards the end of August, I discovered this new lane on the patch, a green lane cut through the heavy Gorse and leading to a wide open field surrounded by wonderful old Oaks so, I started walking this route quite regularly; I could use it as a loop round to my new wildlife cam location to check that on the same walk.

August 23rd I got a glimpse of a bird flying out of the Gorse ahead of me and disappearing over the top quite quickly but, I managed to grab a snap!

I thought I’d seen something a day or two prior to this sighting and I wouldn’t have kept the shot at all except that the breast markings made me think, Long-eared Owl?

I’ve never knowingly seen one before and didn’t think we had them in this area so, I went back.

On August 24th I wandered into the lane, a bit more prepared for possibly quick sightings but, it only takes a glance away, a turn of the head, attempting to look in all directions at once and of course, I missed it. C’est la vie huh? It’s a really good walk anyway so, onward.

Hah! What I took to be another bird, took flight from the Gorse on the left and flew ahead of me down the lane and, I convinced myself this one was a Short-eared owl however, on looking very closely at the shot showing the face I feel it’s more likely to be Long-eared. Two species on the same patch would be too much right?

I was really chuffed to see any owls out here, there are the Barn owls in the shed but I rarely see them out and about.

I now have a mission, to find the Long-eared owl and photograph it so, I walk the lane more often now and either as early as I can drag myself out in the morning or towards evening time when the light is still good enough.

My mum has been down staying for a week or so, we’re out and about walking all over the place so, fast forward to September 3rd and I’m back on the lane. I walked off the adjacent field, onto the first bend with Gorse on both sides. There’s a clearing on the right that allows a view along a fence line which protects a young tree planted area.

I think I almost froze! Memory tells me I really was NOT ready but ….

There it was, perched on a fence post and looking the other way! I had the time to lift the camera, adjust my settings and start shooting. Now, I’m not so dumb as to think this bird wasn’t aware of me, just hungry and looking for food but, what an opportunity!

Isn’t it just beautiful?

Although I am now mirrorless, I had reset my camera recently so it is still clicking when I take a shot, this was the result.

Those eyes! Looking right into the lens!

Of course it couldn’t last, all these shots were taken within the same minute!

I watched it head down the slope, thinking that was that!

Nope! It settled on a fence post a little further away and appeared to doze off! It’s only 14:30! 🙂

I don’t know why but, I was a happy chap with what I hoped I’d captured so, I walked on and left it to hunt.

It turned out to be one of the more eventful walks for me.

I’ve been admiring these little flowers for a fe days so, I took this, added them to my iNaturalist to see what they are! Sneezewort! Don’t you just love that name? Common names include the sneezewort, sneezeweed, bastard pellitory, European pellitory, fair-maid-of-France, goose tongue, sneezewort yarrow, wild pellitory, and white tansy (Wikipedia)

Into September and there are still a good few Butterflies and Bees around, all good.

Walking along a heavily rutted lane trying to watch birds and all beasties is fraught with hazards but somehow I made it to the end and looked out onto the open field beyond.

A bird of prey on a kill way across the field, of course I started to walk slowly closer and, of course, it took off! I initially thought I’d found a Goshawk but it turns out to be a young Peregrine Falcon, good enough for me although the shots are awful.

Another great sighting for me and on the same walk as the owl but, not great images at all, it actually circled overhead for eight minutes!

That was it for that walk but, apart from the Peregrine shots, I was a very happy chap, especially when I got to see the owl on the big screen! Guess where I walk most days now?

See you again soon 🙂

august 2025