tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2947651991148942344.post4309768272769702068..comments2023-10-20T08:42:01.243+01:00Comments on A birding odyssey.: Eagle Owl issues revisited!John S. Armitagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14452035194822027644noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2947651991148942344.post-89911794613921903612012-04-19T10:34:32.901+01:002012-04-19T10:34:32.901+01:00"In a general defence I'd simply say that..."In a general defence I'd simply say that Short-eared Owls, Long-eared Owls and Rough-legged Buzzards all manage to "bridge" the North Sea to winter with us in the UK when necessary."<br /><br />A recent note in British Birds magazine (104: 544-546) gives an up to date summary of Eagle Owl status and movements. With over 5000 ringing recoveries examined, only one involves a significant sea crossing (of at least 48 km). Two European bird observatories (Helgoland and Utsira) seem ideally placed to record Eagle Owls attempting to cross the North Sea, but neither has recorded a single Eagle Owl in a combined total of over 200 years of observations.<br /><br />It may seem a reasonable assumption that if Short-eared and Long-eared Owls are happy to cross the North Sea, then Eagle Owls will do the same. However the evidence (ringing recoveries, radar and satellite tracking, bird observatory records) clearly indicates that Eagle Owls are relatively sedentary birds and are not migratory, irruptive or nomadic.Paul Dohertynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2947651991148942344.post-88405867537916985062012-04-10T09:41:12.000+01:002012-04-10T09:41:12.000+01:00Thanks, Paul. Perhaps Tim not wearing his RSPB fle...Thanks, Paul. Perhaps Tim not wearing his RSPB fleece would have kept me on track and, to be fair, mention was made of his being a member of BOURC.<br /><br />I couldn't agree with your sentiments more, but , hopefully, the matter will be properly resolved at some point in the future.<br />John.John S. Armitagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14452035194822027644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2947651991148942344.post-21181910935244306432012-04-09T13:03:49.731+01:002012-04-09T13:03:49.731+01:00Hi John, I had been under the impression that the ...Hi John, I had been under the impression that the view of RSPB was that of MA not TM whose views are those of the BOU.The BOU view cannot be sustained in that they agreed that all species recorded in the UK in a wild state since the last glaciation are native. Derek Yalden has published evidence that EO fits that case with sub fossil evidence, yet BOU still argue the non native status, a case of serious inconsistency. Harriers with or without EO predation continue to rear more than enough young in Bowland to maintain population the problem for them is winter persecution not EO predation.paul v Irvingnoreply@blogger.com