27 August 2009

Stewart Beer was birding along the Taw Estuary at Instow on 26 August when he came across a family party of four Little Owls, including this individual perched on a gate.

Of the Little Owls, Stewart writes: "A pair has occupied a quite modest territory here – within the vicinity of the Instow cricket ground – for a number of years. Individual birds sometimes fly across to the pitch seeking their invertebrate prey. Offspring from the pair – or is it the reverse? – are to be found across the estuary on Braunton Marshes, another long-occupied habitat."

Little Owl – Instow – © Stewart Beer – 26 August 2009