Carlton Marsh

Carlton Marsh: A really good evening with what I believe was a LONG EARED OWL. Must have flown in of recent. Hunting low over the reed bed and also meadow land. With jerky wing beats. I doubt if it was a SEO as there have been few in this last winter. This bird was dark with long wings. The right size and absolutely not similar to what I had already viewed. That being BARN OWL and also TAWNY OWL. This bird was hunting in its very distinctive style with jerky beats a glide with up tilted end of wing. It would fly and then when it saw something climb from 15 feet to 40 feet and return to take a look. Much as would a SEO. This bird was within 40 feet of me and had a trailing edge to its wing which was lighter than the main part. Which could have meant that it was a SEO. But the facts tend more to a LEO than an SEO. It was hunting into darkness which is also unlike SEO. As for it being a TAWNY no way.

Also 4 GROUPER singing and 2 CETTI'S WARB, 1 GREAT SPOTTED WOOD, 1 GREEN WOOD, 1 MISTLE THRUSH, 1 SONG THRUSH, 1 BLACKCAP singing. 2 REED BUNTING singing. 1 CHINESE WATER DEER. (NO THANK YOU) 1 BLACKBIRD, 1 CHAFFINCH, 1 CUCKOO heard but not seen.

Mutford Lock:  One EGYPTION GOOSE and the usual first winter SHAG.