October! Owl time! Tes the tawnies are beginning to search for new and re-establish territories and in doing so chase this year’s young away to find their own neck of the woods.

On moonlit frosty nights the familiar ‘twit-twoo’ sounds clear and far-reaching. This is in fact a duet between two sexes. The female utters ‘twit’ or ‘kewick’ and the male answers with his long drawn out ’whooooo’.

Pity an unwary vole or mouse tonight! The owls listen and on silent feathery down-like wings as light as thistledown swoops to pounce on his unlucky prey.

Since being introduced to Britain in the late 19th century, little owls are now widespread across the nation and now are quite common in Bushy Park and Richmond Park and being active by both night and day, can sometimes be seen sitting on fence posts (pictured) from where they swoop and hunt voles, beetles and small birds.

Their vocalisation is a rather plaintive mewing or whistle which can be mistaken for the yelping of parakeets.

Our other two native owls are the long eared and short eared but they are comparatively scarce especially in our areas.