I think we have a new resident on the street! Has anyone else heard / seen the owl? There has been a lot of twit-twooing the past few evenings!
8 Likes
I’m very excited about this!
I read on the Friends of Blythe Hill that one had been spotted on Blythe Hill a few days ago - I’ve never seen an owl in the wild before and would love to!
I believe some have been heard before on One Tree Hill over the years.
5 Likes
He’s definitely about, and very vocal! Sounds like its coming from the direction of Grierson Road, maybe the Nature Reserve? Either way, he sounds very close by!
2 Likes
Owls are my favourite birds. Last July I got a bit too excited when an owl experience showed up at the Horniman Musuem.
Any idea what type of owl?
1 Like
Not sure - am going to go for a wander this evening to see if I can locate where the call is coming from. Will let you know!
2 Likes
We’ve heard it too! Very exciting!
If it was indeed a “twit-twoo” that OP heard, that’s likely a pair of tawny owls.
2 Likes
Yes Ive heard him. We live on Grierson Road. I woke up at 2am last night and it was hooting. I couldn’t go back to sleep as I was so excited
2 Likes
That does it - am going to go for a wonder up Blythe hill and then loop round to see if I can hear anything!
2 Likes
Good luck.
Success! Heard it in Blythe Hill, tracked it down and saw it perched on a tree, and it then flew off. Tracked it down again and been sat under it for around 30 minutes listening to it and trying to get a photo - I will see if I can get something better but I can only make out it’s silhouette with the naked eye, so I’ve butchered this photo and too dark to autofocus etc etc anyway this is an owl not a escaped ewok from star wars I promise!
23 Likes
So maybe more than one owl? One to go ‘twit’, the other ‘twoo’?
2 Likes
I only heard and saw the one, but quite possible there are two around.
Amazing! I’m just going out for a wander now to see if I can track the sound!
1 Like
Nice! Not a bad photo at all! Looks definitely like a tawny owl to me.
1 Like
Obligatory RSPB link:
1 Like
For anyone who wants to go and see it (and I am no expert - this is the first time I have ever seen a wild owl) what worked for me was first off just listening - the sound is fairly regular and then finding the tree. Then trying to find it in the tree. This is the tree I took the photo of it in - can you spot it?
And this is what it looks like before I played around with the image - ie you are just looking for shapes and sometimes a bit of movement.
7 Likes
This is so exciting!! What time of day did you take these pictures?
2 Likes
I think around 9.15pm to 9.45pm . If Tawny owls as most people are suggesting, I think they are strictly nocturnal .
Be nice if there was a clear night with a nice bright moon, might have another go if that happens, but might never see it again of course - was very lucky to see it yesterday!
3 Likes
Cool! Might try my luck tonight then 
1 Like