FOR BIRD PHOTOS TAKEN IN LONDON CLICK HERE

We are very lucky to have so many little owls in this area – particularly Richmond Park. But how do we find them?

Little Owls are most active at dawn and dusk. However, they can often be seen during the middle of the day, basking in the sun or atop exposed perches such as a telegraph poles, dead trees or isolated buildings.

Little Owls usually hunt from a perch, typically a fence post. When prey is spotted, they ‘bob up and down’ a few times before flying a short distance to the ground where they often chase prey on foot.

CREDIT: Arturo Nikolai from Galicia Spain - Flickr

This species of owl is not native to the UK. They were introduced in the late 1800s and successfully spread. We now have around 6,000 pairs of Little Owls in Britain. More recently their population has decreased due to pesticides which are killing their prey. Modern day farming methods are also a problem while many owls are killed on our roads.

1. Listen out for the ‘kiew kiew’ call

To hear what it sounds like click here. During the courting season in March and April, the male sometimes lets of a loud single hooting ‘woop’.

2. Check the fence posts

Little Owls do not hunt on the wing. Instead, they perch on a carefully selected camouflaged post or pole and wait for their prey to come to them. They then quickly dive down onto the ground to catch and kill small mammals, small birds or large insects.

3. Go spotting at dawn and dusk

These are the times when Little Owls are most active. It is possible to spot them sunbathing during the day, but they are very small and usually extremely well camouflaged which makes them hard to find.

4. Be patient

Remember Little Owls are very shy and do not move around much. If you are searching for owls in a known location, find a well sheltered spot and wait as long as possible. Moving around lots will only scare them and encourage them to hide amongst a dense tree, lessening your chance of a good view.

5. Check out those nooks and crannies

Little Owls are often found in quarries, old chimney stacks, old buildings or amongst the debris of old trees. If you are looking for Little Owls during the daytime these are the types of places you should be looking. Have a really careful scan of every little crevice. Pay particular attention to the areas which are in direct sunlight. Little Owls love to sunbathe during the day.

For more information, visit the Little Owl Project