06/07/2022
Little Owls in West Somerset
There aren't many little owls this far west but Somerset is a hive for this species of owl. A few reside in Devon but numbers are very low.
Introduced in the 1800s, The little owl hunts by day and night, usually morning and evening by perching on a suitable post or tree branch or whatever it can find and waiting for insects or small mammals/reptiles to appear below them. They will also run after their prey along the ground if that fails. If this fails, they will actively prey on small birds especially when roosting and fledging. Birds the size of bullfinch are taken. Insects such as beetles will be cached in a suitable corner of the roosting area for future meals and especially throughout the winter.
During the best part of the day, the owls will be found bathing in whatever sunshine appears and can get very vocal at night.
They pair for life and stay within their territory for that period. Fledging owlets will stay within 5 to 10 miles of their parents.
Known for their aggressive nature, they are very territorial and have been known (and videoed) throwing out much larger Barn owls and kestrels from their nest holes and taking on other raptors in flight. Nest holes can be similar to most owls - boxes, tree holes, rock faces with crevasses etc.
They prefer lowland areas much like the short eared owl however can be seen and do nest in hilly areas. Particular nests exist in hilly areas of North Devon, for example.
Their flight profile is similar to a woodpecker or thrush, flying with a slight Bob and very agile much like all owls once in flight and quartering however you won't find many little owls hunting the same way.
I've so far come across 2 pairs of little owls in North Devon and West Somerset and single little owls on the Devon and Somerset border near Tiverton. The Somerset Levels host many breeding pairs and can be seen everywhere, I've seen several pairs and know of more here.
If you get the chance to put some boxes up or allow your land to host these little owls, you'll be doing the breed a favour as they are declining.
