Barn Owls

[woollyback]

Does anyone know where to see barn owls? I know there is sometimes one near greenabella marsh but have never been lucky enought to see one..

Any comments welcome,
Bridie

[steveduke]

Bridie,
If you're near Redcar / New Marske, try walking up Green Lane (OS 462043, 522716) up to Errington Wood above New Marske (OS 462500, 520500) and round the edge of the wood around dusk.  Or just walk round the wood perimeter (there's a car park at OS 461800, 520200). Nowhere near guaranteed for a sighting, but the best I know around me.
All the best,
Steve

[Simon Elliott]

Hi Bridie

There's a good chance of seeing a barn owl at Coatham Stob which is near Long Newton, off the A66. Directions are on this site. I walked there regularly while we had all the snow. A good point to watch out for owls is if you follow the path at the far end of the car park, walk down until you cross a bridge over a stream then up the other side following a line of telegraph poles. Eventually you come to another small footbridge which crosses a hedgerow with some well established trees. This bridge is a good vantage point as you can move from one side of the hedgerow to the other. There are a lot of dog walkers but they thin out by dusk, which is when I've seen barn owl there. The dog walkers also don't seem to bother the short-eared owls or even the deer and it must be the easiest place in the area to see both. The last time I visited there was a barn owl hunting in front of the car park, again at dusk. I've also heard tawny owl in the small wood close to the first footbridge and I'm told there is a favourite spot for little owl close by but I'm not sure where it is.

Finally, I see barn owl fairly regularly crossing the A66 on the stretch between the Hartburn turnoff (I think) and the new Long Newton road bridge.

Simon
         

[noelg]

Have seen most of mine at the Dunsdale recycling plant Yearby

[Simon Elliott]

There were 2 barn owls on and around the triangular nest box in front of the car park at Coatham Stobb last night, between 5 and 5.30pm.

[woollyback]

Wow,

Went yesterday - 3 SEO's, Barn owl and 2 Kestrels. Didn't get much in way of photo's but theres always next time.

Thank you all very much for the info - will keep you posted how I get on

Bridie