Short Eared Owl - Rainham Marshes (Silts)

Late Sunday afternoon I popped over to the silts at the west end of Rainham Marshes RSPB with my non birding mate John Rozee. John was keen to see an owl (as he has never seen one before) so when I said there was a good chance seeing Short Eared Owl and maybe even Barn Owl at Rainham, he was raring to join me.

We stopped off at Ferry Lane and caught up with one of the Black Redstarts, although it stayed at roof top height, so no pics I'm afraid.

On the silts as the sun began to go down. It was a glorious evening as we made our way east and got into where we thought would be a good area to view from. The 1st bird of note, in the sunset, was a female Marsh Harrier, and then another. A good 30 minutes had passed, when just 30-40 yards in front of us, a Short Eared Owl appeared from the long grass. We watched it fly over the grassland, quartering, looking for prey for 5-10 minutes when it was joined by another. Pointing the 2nd owl out to John, a Barn Owl appeared too; 3 owls all out hunting in no more than 100 square yards, in front of us.

Unfortunately, the light has began to drop significantly by now, hence the poor picture quality. A cracking hour and a half's birding though!