Peregrine Falcon Web Cam!

[DaveinGermany]

Most birds of prey/owls will thrive as long as the conditions are right, adequate food & nesting areas, lack of predators & suchlike. As long as man/ man made interventions don't threaten the balance they tend to adapt quite well after a little getting used to the new environment.

[kestrelx]

Originally Posted by DaveinGermany

Most birds of prey/owls will thrive as long as the conditions are right, adequate food & nesting areas, lack of predators & suchlike. As long as man/ man made interventions don't threaten the balance they tend to adapt quite well after a little getting used to the new environment.

Well some years ago I asked a Accy birdwatcher if there were still Tawny owls at Ardenhall and he said no - he hadn't heard any. So I don't know if they are still there? They used to breed every year.

Also in the 70's, birds of prey generally were much rarer than they are now, Kestrel was the only common one in Accy area, ironically in some places the Kestrel is on the decrease. But back then you would never see Peregrine or other big birds of prey in that area they were very rare and only in places like the Lake District and Scotland. There was only one pair of Red Kite in Wales back then.

[AccyChris]

Originally Posted by kestrelx

Thanks for the update Stevie - last time I was up there I saw Buzzard over that valley below Accrington Scouts - old quarries, in the woods. Also you get Short-eared Owls over Hambledon.

Are there still Tawny Owls around Ardenhall/Owl hall? Also there used to be Little Owls above the lodges on the coppice - up Moleside - Used to hear both these type of owls calling at night.

i know of a big big owl down near acc and ross college not sure on type tho i didnt get a good look and wouldnt know if i did lol...also i know there's a kestrel around arden hall thats eating pigeons from the alotments....i've seen it in action

[kestrelx]

Originally Posted by AccyChris

i know of a big big owl down near acc and ross college not sure on type tho i didnt get a good look and wouldnt know if i did lol...also i know there's a kestrel around arden hall thats eating pigeons from the alotments....i've seen it in action

It's probably a Tawny Owl, round the back of the college in the grounds of that Old folks home, they always bred somewhere in those woods, so must still be there!

[Stevie R]

Originally Posted by kestrelx

Thanks for the update Stevie - last time I was up there I saw Buzzard over that valley below Accrington Scouts - old quarries, in the woods. Also you get Short-eared Owls over Hambledon.

Are there still Tawny Owls around Ardenhall/Owl hall? Also there used to be Little Owls above the lodges on the coppice - up Moleside - Used to hear both these type of owls calling at night.

Your Tawny Owls are indeed still around,in fact very near where I live.
Little Owl sightings for me tend to be in the Green Howarth/Benjamin Row area.
The top lodge has changed and is now two thirds covered with water reed.
The subsequent habitat has attracted a pair of Reed Buntings this year as well as last year!
Short-eared Owls Kes,can`t say as I`ve ever seen one.

[kestrelx]

Originally Posted by Stevie R

Your Tawny Owls are indeed still around,in fact very near where I live.
Little Owl sightings for me tend to be in the Green Howarth/Benjamin Row area.
The top lodge has changed and is now two thirds covered with water reed.
The subsequent habitat has attracted a pair of Reed Buntings this year as well as last year!
Short-eared Owls Kes,can`t say as I`ve ever seen one.

Glad to hear Tawny Owls are still around Ardenhall. Used to see Little Owls on Moleside back of the farm area, down Hambledon Scouts and round Canal area down rabbit run Altham area.

Nearest Reed Bunting back in 70's was Altham area - never on the coppice area. As there are reeds up there now any Water Rail?

Short eareds used to be over Burnley Moors mainly - I saw one once over Hambledon. Have you seen any Hobby in the area?, another bird that has increased massively in the last 20 years along with Peregrines. Sparrowhawk is another that used to be much rarer!

[Eric]

Just an aside: I am re-reading Ainsworth's "Lancashire Witches" ... it's free ... Project Gutenberg ... I know it's dated; but it is still in print, the only one of his works that has been continuously in print since its first publication. One thing that really stands out are the referrences to local wildlife, esp. its abundance. Having experienced only post-industrial Lancashire, it's hard to imagine the natural beauty and the wild life of former times.

[kestrelx]

Originally Posted by Eric

Just an aside: I am re-reading Ainsworth's "Lancashire Witches" ... it's free ... Project Gutenberg ... I know it's dated; but it is still in print, the only one of his works that has been continuously in print since its first publication. One thing that really stands out are the referrences to local wildlife, esp. its abundance. Having experienced only post-industrial Lancashire, it's hard to imagine the natural beauty and the wild life of former times.

Well in those days the Red Kite was a scavenger in every town and village a very common bird and went from that to being almost extinct.

[Stevie R]

Originally Posted by kestrelx

Glad to hear Tawny Owls are still around Ardenhall. Used to see Little Owls on Moleside back of the farm area, down Hambledon Scouts and round Canal area down rabbit run Altham area.

Nearest Reed Bunting back in 70's was Altham area - never on the coppice area. As there are reeds up there now any Water Rail?

Short eareds used to be over Burnley Moors mainly - I saw one once over Hambledon. Have you seen any Hobby in the area?, another bird that has increased massively in the last 20 years along with Peregrines. Sparrowhawk is another that used to be much rarer!

Sparrowhawks are very active locally Kes.Hobbies,not this area,Merlins are the mini raptor in these parts,however quite rare.Only one sighting in maybe 10 years.
Water Rail would be a cooo ........

[kestrelx]

Originally Posted by Stevie R

Sparrowhawks are very active locally Kes.Hobbies,not this area,Merlins are the mini raptor in these parts,however quite rare.Only one sighting in maybe 10 years.
Water Rail would be a cooo ........

Merlin up Trough of Bowland I think - also that area is one of best places in the UK for Hen Harriers! A few years back I heard that Hobby bred couple of miles away from Burnley!

[Eric]

Have to admit I'm loving this bird watching ... seriously.

And it adds a whole new dimension to "watching cute young chicks on your computer"

[maxthecollie]

We have heard different owls at the top of Sandy Lane at night, and we have had a sparrowhawk twice sat on the fence between us and next door. You get an idea when it is around as all the small birds go from the feeder

[mobertol]

The following is a link to the Osprey webcam near Keswick - saw them from a viewpoint in the Lake District (Derwentwater) a couple of weeks ago. The Male of the couple hadn't yet returned and a young male was trying it on with the female by taking her gifts of fish on the day we were there!
ospreywatch - YouTube

Also visited the Lake District Bird of Prey Center on the Lowther Castle estate for a display of falconry -really interesting and impressive flying especially by the Gyr falcons.

Never realised that many birds of prey on the south coast were deliberately killed during WW1 and 2 as they hunted and killed carrier pigeons which were important means of communication back then (the falconer mentioned this during the display!)

[kestrelx]

Originally Posted by maxthecollie

We have heard different owls at the top of Sandy Lane at night, and we have had a sparrowhawk twice sat on the fence between us and next door. You get an idea when it is around as all the small birds go from the feeder

What do you mean by "different owls?" They are probably only Tawny Owls - I don't think Barn Owls are in that area!

[maxthecollie]

Originally Posted by kestrelx

What do you mean by "different owls?" They are probably only Tawny Owls - I don't think Barn Owls are in that area!

I meant different schreeches and hoots. I wouldn't know which owl it is from the sounds