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Scops Owl 3
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Taken at Libertys owl and reptile center in Hampshire. This is the third out of three.
Description Small, eared owl with yellow eyes. Its plumage is a vermiculated grey-buff (gray-buff), intricately marked with black provides excellent camouflage against tree bark when roosting.
Size 16-21cm, 60-135g
Range Southern Europe, parts of North Africa, Asia Minor east to Central Asia. Many populations migratory, moving to Africa south of Sahara in winter.
Habitat Open or semi-open woodland, parks, plantations etc. Winters on savannah.
Food Mainly insects and other invertebrates but also small lizards, frogs and small mammals.
Breeding 2-6 eggs laid from March-August, normally in tree cavity. Eggs are incubated for 25 days, young leave the nest by about 4 weeks and are independent by a week later.
Call A low, short, piping whistle repeated at 2-3 second intervals.
Status No additional information.
Comments This owl is very nocturnal, and rarely seen, but its wonderful piping call can readily be heard ringing out from Mediterranean olive groves in early summer.
Races Originally formed superspecies with O. sunia and O. senegalensis but is vocally and genetically distinct. Race cycladum may be included in nominate form.
O.s.scops W. S. and SE. Europe also locally in C & E Europe, North Africa.
O.s.cycladum Greece
O.s.mallorcae Balearic Is
O.s.cyprius Cyprus, Asia Minor
O.s.turanicus Turkmenistan to W Pakistan
O.s.pulchellus Caucasus to Tien Shan |
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hello Sharon
very nice and sharpness composition with good details and beautyful colours
greeting lou
- PeterZ
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2386 W: 94 N: 5517]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(17564) - [2009-09-18 10:13]
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Hello Sharon,
Fantastic photo in great sharpness, details and very beautiful colours. Amazing clarity in the photo. Good contrasting black BG. Superb pose, composition and POV.
Regards,
Peter
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- Alutka
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 132 W: 42 N: 372]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(1584) - [2009-09-18 12:57]
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Witaj,
very good foot-note - interesting species, I did not see this in nature .The details of this photo are nice, clear and sharp. The colours are good. The image is well composed with very good detail and exposure.TFS
Regards
Alina
![Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 12 W: 2 N: 11]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/s-n-s.gif){kind=small}