6 April 2009 – updated 24 April 2009

A change of plans for Andrew Cunningham on 4 April meant he was walking the Grand Western Canal from Tiverton to Sampford Peverell instead of visiting the Exe Estuary…resulting in this close encounter with a Long-eared Owl.

Andrew writes of his walk: “My slim hope was to find a Wheatear for the canal year list or even a migrating wader. I had done rather well as I approached Halberton, with Nuthatches, three male Siskins, two female Bramblings, three Willow Warblers, a female Blackcap, a Reed Bunting, Treecreepers and the resident male Mandarin Duck.

I thought of eating my brunch at Holly Dam just west of Halberton but decided to walk a little more to a favourite sheltered spot of Rock Bridge, a kilometre east of Halberton, to watch some pine trees for Goldcrests.

As I munched my sarnies I noticed four Goldfinches busily moving about near two pine trees. Ten minutes or so later, sipping back my coffee, I caught sight of a brown object inside one of the trees. It was an owl. Thinking that Tawny Owl would be a super find on the canal for me I raised my bins and got a shock.

I confirmed some ID features with another birder by text message to expel any doubts. It was a Long-eared Owl no less! A super bird for Devon and a stunning one for the canal patch. I sent word out to all I knew. Local birders, Ian Brooks, Roger Treeby and Ray Jones all came to enjoy it and I was on cloud nine.

Kevin Rylands texted me about an hour later to say another had just been found at Dawlish Warren. My thunder had unceremoniously been stolen but it didn't matter – I was buzzing with this one anyway.

It has been a good canal year so far but I think it will be hard for me to beat this bird!"

Long-eared Owl – Grand Western Canal near Halberton – © Andrew Cunningham – 4 April 2009

Andrew caught up with the Long-eared Owl again on 12 April, a few hundred yards away from the original site, roosting beside the road at Noble Hindrance (ST021138) between Sampford Peverell and Halberton.

Long-eared Owl – Noble Hindrance – © Andrew Cunningham – 12 April 2009