Long-eared owl in a maple tree

A special encounter: a long-eared owl amongst the red leaves of a maple tree.

From amongst the branches, this beautiful owl looks at me curiously….......... Or am I looking at it?

Long-eared owls do not rest; they roost. They like to sit together in a tree, pressed slightly against the trunk so that they blend in with the tree and are almost invisible. During the day, they take a nap. At night, they fly out to hunt. With a full stomach, they then return to their roost. Beneath such a spot, you can often find pellets, which the owls use to rid themselves of indigestible remains of their prey, such as bones and fur.

The long-eared owl (Asio otus) is a medium-sized owl that stands out due to its bright orange eyes and distinctive ear tufts. Incidentally, those long ear tufts are not actual ears. The scientific name means ‘ 'ooruil'. Zijn naam dankt hij aan de gelijkenis met een 'ranse', Middelnederlands voor 'muts met een kap die in plooien afhing' ’. The eyes are a beautiful bright orange-yellow.