Hunting, hooting and swooping owls as autumn nears

3 hours ago

Samantha JaggerNorth East and Cumbria

News image — Three tawny owlets sit snuggled together in woodland on Tyneside

Ant and Dex Photography Three tawny owlets sit on a branch. They have beige speckled feathers and sit burrowed in their feathers with their eyes closed. The sky is bright blue and stands out behind the owls. — Three tawny owlets sit snuggled together in woodland on Tyneside

Local photographers have shared their images of hooting, hunting and swooping owls, as autumn closes in.

Meteorological autumn began on Tuesday, while astronomical autumn starts with the autumn equinox on 23 September.

Dan Watson said spotting three short-eared owls hunting on moorland near Middleton-in-Teesdale was "one of his most memorable encounters".

While Ashley Johnson, from Middlesbrough, described an "amazing, surreal experience" sharing an evening with a barn owl at Low Barns Nature Reserve, Bishop Auckland, last week.

Daniel Watson / DWX Photography A short-eared owl with sandy-brown feathers and bright yellow eyes. The owl is mid-flight. — Dan Watson said spotting three short-eared owls hunting was one of his "most memorable encounters"

England is home to four native owls - the tawny, the barn, the long-eared and the short-eared.

The little owl, introduced to the UK in the 19th century, has a height of about 22cm and can be spotted along hedgerows, on farmland and in parkland, the RPSB said.

AJ Wildlife Photography A barn owl in flight. It has a long wingspan and glides in the air. The barn owl has a heart-shaped white face and a speckled beige head, chest and wings. It flies above green shrubbery. — Ashley Johnson said it was a "surreal experience" seeing a barn owl, gliding low in the air

Anthony Skordis said short-ears were "his favourite species of owls", after capturing one perched on a post in Weardale.

"As a photographer you always want to get great photos, but it's just such an amazing experience watching them in the wild," he said.

Ant and Dex Photography A short-eared owl perches on a wooden post holding up barbed wire. The owl has speckled brown feathers and bright yellow eyes. — Anthony Skordis said this a short-eared owl in Weardale appeared to look directly at him

Elements Photography A little owl sits burrowing in its black, white and grey feathers. The little owl has bright yellow and black eyes and sits in between boulders which are covered in lichen. — Lee Johnston spotted a little owl tucked up in a spot near Allenheads

Tarquin Pentecast said seeing barn owlets on the west coast in Cumbria was thanks to a young farming couple who "actively encourage the owls to breed" with their installation of nesting boxes in barns.

"It's a win-win for everyone," he said.

Tarquin Pentecast Three barn owlets sit on top of a wooden box in a barn. The owlets sit looking down from their perch near the roof. The roof has wooden beams and the barn is built from stone. — Tarquin Pentecast said farmers in west Cumbria had established nesting boxes to support owl breeding

Ant and Dex Photography Two barn owl chicks sit cuddled together in a tree root. There are cowebs and small green weeds surrounding the two owls, who have bright white feathred bodies and beady black eyes. — Anthony Skordis said it was "pretty special to have them both chicks pop their heads out"

Peter Brown A barn owl perches on a black metal fence. The back of the barn owl has beautifully decorated feathers in speckled orange, black and white. It is looking east. There are trees and green shrubbery in the background. — Peter Brown, who snapped this shot of a barn owl in Carlisle, said "it is always an honour" seeing owls

DH Photography A little owl — Darren Hudson said he had a "remarkable and unexpected encounter" with a little owl

Darren Hudson said he and his partner Deborah Poxton were driving near Tunstall Reservoir in Weardale and had a "remarkable and unexpected encounter" with a little owl.

"It gracefully flew from a nearby tree and settled on a post... I was able to capture this moment from within the car, ensuring not to disturb the bird," he said.