In this video I'm going in search of the UK's rarest owl, the Long-Eared Owl. With just a few thousand breeding pairs this elusive bird can be tricky to find, so the importance of having a circle of photography friends came into play in the creation of this film!
I was told of a location where it may be possible to see and hopefully photograph the Long-Eared Owl. Armed with my trusty Z9 and a thermal scope to help spot them I headed into the woods. Join me as I try to find one of the UK's most beautiful birds of prey.
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Hi, I'm Simon Eardley. Welcome to my channel!
Wildlife photography doesn't have to be complicated. Join me on my adventures as I try to capture the magic of nature in both photograph and video form. I'll share with you the tips and tricks I've learned along the way, helping you capture the best images possible.
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MY SETUP / GEAR
CAMERA GEAR
Nikon Z9 mirrorless camera. amzn.to/3J73fTG
Nikon 500mm F4 AF-S ED VR G
Ifootage TC9 Fastbowl Tripod amzn.to/3ZMDeip
Manfrotto 502 AH Video Head. amzn.to/3XIyMiI
Viltrox 13mm f1.4 STM Nikon Z Mount amzn.to/42hxluQ
Mindshift Backlight 36L Camera Backpack amzn.to/3QSxtvv
Pulsar Helion 2 XP50 Thermal Scope amzn.to/44W4e0L
VLOGGING SETUP
Ulanzi and Coman Zero Y Travel Tripod amzn.to/3I3oEeY
Nikon Z30 + 16-50mm DX VR Kit amzn.to/3Thk41c
DJI Osmo Action amzn.to/3s94yrk
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Smatree Selfie Stick Tripod amzn.to/3Th23ix
Olight Perun 2 Headtorch. amzn.to/3JjlqDR
Joby Gorillapod amzn.to/3CLHN1H
Neewer LED lights amzn.to/3gsN5aY
Ulanzi 6W LED light amzn.to/3SiQ7eM
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Even got them flying at the end 😅amazing shots 😍
Bless you Simon for the mention. Otis and I very touched. Made his day😁 Another cracking video. Now we be going out looking for the long eared owl. Only managed to see it once. That scope be a big help for sure. All the best elt and family 👍
Nice one Elt, he's a credit to you. It made my weekend. All the best with the search!!🦉👍😊
@@simoneardley thanks. Glad to hear made your wk end like ours Share the love. Spread the joy 😀
Owls 🦉 are just so AWESOME 👌 🇬🇧
Youre right there Ian 👍🏼
Just catching up on the vlogs mate! All I can say is Top work, nice the birds welfare was there and the shots were outstanding. Well done, bit jealous as I've still never seen one, lol.. Cheers Rich 👍
Thanks Rich, theyre a stunning bird!! I'm sure I'll be just as jealous when youre photographing Great Greys and Snowy Owls over there!!😅
😀😀@@simoneardley
Long Eared Owl . Lovely .
Always good stuff Simon............thanks for taking the time ...............and thanks for sharing
Youre welcome Stan 👍🏼
Hello Si, are they as rare as the Teet owl...!🦉😉🙂 Great footage Pal....👍
Commonest one going I've heard!!🤣
Absolutely fantastic Simon. I have photographed Short Eared Owls on a few occasions now but never had the chance to photograph the Long Eared Owl. What a stunning bird it is. Thanks again for a great video 👍👍
Thanks Owen, those orange eyes are something else arent they!!👀🦉👌🏼
Nice to meet you and chat with you on Sunday at the bird fair. Emily said, "You look younger in person lol .
I like Emily!!! 🤣🤣 Good to meet you too Chris. Thanks for watching 👊🏼
What a bird! Some lovely photos and video footage👍. Lovely moment with the young lad, good one Simon. 👏
Yeh thanks, aye it made my weekend 😃👌🏼
I remember back in 2008 my brother in law was driving me down a country lane to a job interview. He suddenly slammed the brakes on and said 'look at that owl'. I looked around expecting it to be a barn or tawny as they were common around the farm. I was looking around the field expecting a fleeting glimpse of a flying owl over the fields, but then I suddenly saw a long eared owl sat proud on a fence post no more than 15 feet from my window. It's eyes burning in the early morning glow. Never seen one since. Fantastic bird
Fabulous owls 🦉 and great filming I recently filmed the shorty
Wow what an amazing bird, great video. Finally got to use your beanbag birthday present at my local RSPB hide and it is ideal and being a wheelchair user it makes carrying around the big lens and camera very stable on my lap . Take care mate Graham
Wonderful video,discovered your channel a few weeks ago (liked and subscribed)really enjoying watching your videos, thanks for sharing 👍
Loved it, fantastic video!
Thanks so much!
Cracked vlog again Simon! Already looking forward to the next one. J
Thanks again!
It was great to see you on Saturday at Rutland bird show
Likewise, hope you got home dry!!!😆
We had one that decide to roost in a quadrangle at our hospital in the 80’s.
Wauw what a great video Simon! Love your canal so much!!
Kind words, thanks for following the channel 👍🏼
Great work mate and beautiful shots
Fantastic simon Fantastic.
Cheers Gary.
Class I’m off Burnley in the morning for Leo
Good luck Stephen, dont get killed in the scrum!!
Always a good story and pics, good to see you at BF- dont change anything say/show it as it is :-) . Thx
Cheers Edward, you too mate. Were changing nowt!!👌🏼👊🏼
Stunning vids and cracking images. Look forward to the next one. :)
Glad you enjoyed it 👍🏼
Lovely video Simon some stunning photos
Cheers Stephen 👊
Great vid, you did well to only get owls in your video with the amount of photographers that have been there!
Thats why I had so much camo on, to hide from them!!🤣🤣👍🏼
Brilliant Simon, thank you, very much enjoyed these images STUNNING!!!! the video as usual brilliant👍
Thanks very much 👊🏼
Cracking video Simon, really enjoyed this! We haven't managed to see a LEO before, it's still very much top of our list for this year! Keep up the great work 😀
Thanks Ladies, theyre a beautiful species. Cant decide which I prefer, the Barn Owl or the LEO ?? Good luck with the search and thanks for watching 😃👀
One word. Stunning.
Thanks George 👊🏼
Amazing bird 🐦
Nice to meet you at Birdfair, even with the “ interesting” weather. I was the guy with the camo on
Nice to meet you too Adrian, yeh it was interesting to say the least. Wellies next year!!!!😆
@@simoneardley yes certainly and once I’ve had my knee fixed, I can get out more and get the hide I was looking at, Santa are you listening?
Brilliant! Only ever seen one LEO, such amazing birds with those orange eyes. You’re right about the Pulsar kit, Simon, a real game changer (I have one…😁). All the best.
Glad you enjoyed it Steve, yeh theyre an amazing piece of kit. Its amazing whats actually about you and you have no idea till you have a sweep with the scope👀👀👍🏼
Aww Otis’s art work .. such a talented lil chap 👏🏽👏🏽
Amazing video to watch a real credit to you 👏👏What a beautiful creature 👌keep up the brilliant work Simon! Lucky gloves 😂
Cheers Paul, I'd be nowt without those gloves!!
Fantastic, cheers Simon. Cracking film and images. All the best. 👍📷😎
Awesome work Simon with beautiful birds. Great to meet you at BF. My Tragopan gear arrived today with more in customs to come soon.
Nice to meet you too Nigel, enjoy your Tragopan gear !!👍🏼
Brilliant Simon, thank you, we very much enjoyed these images. Sorry to hear that Rutland was weatherbeaten, wish we'd been there anyway. J&A&B&T
Not to worry, it was a busy event despite the weather. Thanks for watching guys 👊🏼👀
wonderful pictures Simon
Thanks
another great video with some stunning images there Simon, such an amazing beautiful bird that's for sure. 👍
Many thanks, beautiful arent they!!👍🏼👌🏼
Great video, and great to meet up at the Birdfair, Dee and myself really enjoyed your company.I will send you the measurements for the new knee pad/beanbag later 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Great to get the Long-eared owl Simon. A couple of evenings well spent 😍
Absolutely 👍🏼🦉🦉
Wow another top video well-done matey
Thanks Keith 👍🏼
Absolutely stunning Simon love long eared owls lovely place Oakham got relatives that live I’m Exton a stunning part of the country keep them coming mate .
Cracking Simon well done 👍
Thanks Andy
Great video Simon as usual 👏👏
Thanks Chris 👍
Excellent video Simon (as usual), I've only managed distance captures of Long-eared Owl through dense hawthorne at RSPB Saltholme.
Many thanks!👍🏼👊🏼
I found a rare one in our kitchen recently, the teat owl..no photos unfortunately 😂
Superb as usual Simon 👌
Glad you enjoyed it Stevie 👍🏼👊🏼
Thank's Simon. Love your channel. Some superb footage and stills in this video.
really amazing!!
Thanks a lot Sophie 😃
Fantastic video once again, what a treat getting those shots ❤
Absolutely awesome 👍👍
Thanks for the visit Pete
Superb! Lovely photoage and stills! ❤
Thanks Phil👍🏼
I am used to take the shoot of wildlife with my Kase landscape filters set, good for me to control the light outdoors.
Beautiful images and video! Thanks so much for taking us along!!
Glad you enjoyed it Trish😃👍🏼
Beautiful pictures.. love owl's and birds of prey.. absolutely love watching your wildlife videos as they are so enjoyable 😁
Great video Simon the footage of the behaviour of the two young owls was amazing!!
Simon this was class great set of images and video nice one cheers for sharing
Some amazing photography and dedication
Beautiful work.....I love all of your content.
Good work, that thermal scope is a great help. There are actually fewer breeding pairs of short-eareds than long-eareds, just long-eareds are more difficult to find (and survey) and far less obvious in their habits (often nocturnal, nest in woodland).
Wow fantastic video the stills are absolutely fantastic Simon
Great video! The owls are incredible.
Another beauty mate 💯 Absolute stunning owl
Amazing. Great results well deserved.
Fantastic, Keep up the good work.
Brilliant work as always Simon, liked the stonechat, and the younguns checking each other out to see who could streach the most and having a good scratch and awesome stills Luvit. And love the fact you gave young Otis a shoutout, Well done, All the best as always...
Ey up Si. Wow what a priviledged insight to our rarest owl. Absolutely breathtaking footage once again. Ay, I'll tell thee what is rare....decent wildlife calendars mate. Got to see ya smiling again. Take care.
Stunning Simon. I was lucky while walking with camera two weeks ago thanks to some local dog walkers the told me there was at least one LEO in the location. After some waiting in a bush it come out at a good distance but I got some images in flight and on a post, wish I was closer but was happy not to disturb it , so hopefully it will return . Great to see your film and see them in all their glory thanks and keep up the good work and your information to help us all .
Nice one Rob, yeh like you say always important to put the subject first and not to disturb them. Thanks for following the channel, Cheers, Si
❤❤❤❤it was good video thanks for your video see you soon
Thanks for watching Sandra👀
Nice one Simon. I was there last night. Amazing spot sadly I didn't get any flight shots but that's the excuse to go back
Nice one Dave, I'm sure you'll get em !!📷🤞🏼
Oh my word absolutely fantastic Simon the owl is on my wish list to see them in the wild but there's that much housing going up in Preston its pushing the wildlife away one day I will photograph one or two .
Yeh youre right there Andy, one of the reasons were moving further afield!! Thanks for watching 👀👊🏼
Nice, so nice! Since two years I was searching to find some owls in my area. This year I managed to find one. It was a long eared one. I guess - we all who have seen them by ourselves, we had the same strong feeling! Nearly never been that satisfied and blown away. Thanks for sharing your long eared with us. Cheers from Hamburg
great video and great shots
Thankyou Adrian 👍
Awesome footage of the Long Eared Owls Simon. I am still yet to see one although I thought I did see one in flight some years ago in very low light but as I wasn’t 100% sure, I didn’t count it. There is a person in my online photography group who photographs them near his home and I’ve got a feeling this is probably the location. I bet you were on a high after this experience.
Cheers Gazza, yeh theyre a stunning bird. Not much between them and the Shorties when you see them in flight.👍
Amazing footage absolutely awesome 😮
Thanks for visiting Ian 👍🏼
Amazing footage and shots Simon, that is a beautiful bird. Every video gives me the urge to get out more. Great to meet you at the show, by the way there was 10 hares in one field this week, I didn't know which one to follow. keep um coming.
Simon , your videos get better and better, some seriously great footage there of one of our more elusive birds. Great thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it Mark, cheers mate
Brilliant video Si fairplay to that young chap the world needs many more of him ! Beautiful imagery in this video the chicks are so "cute and cuddly "until you see those Talons at 11.27 ! Keep wearing those lucky gloves 😀
Thanks Pat, yeh wouldnt like to be a vole on the wrong end of em!! ATB, Si
Stunning work! Truly enjoy your videos!
Thank you so much 😀
Excellent video and images captured with great fieldcraft, well done Simon. Thank you for sharing this great experience.
Cheers Barry, it was a great experience 👍🏼📷
Absolutely stunning bird love the eyes on them I have seen pellets for years in my local woods but could never see them that’s a good tool to have the we scope. Well done mate .
Thanks Eddie, shame the scope doesnt belong to me but a great tool non the less 👍🏼
Hi Simon, Absolutely awesome video, the owls are gorgeous!! Those two on the branch were adorable. The flight shots are amazing. Cheers Simon for showing us some lovely owls!
Glad you enjoyed it Gladys, they put on a great little show those two youngsters👌🏼🦉
Absolutely incredible footage, you must be thrilled!
Cheers Joshua, yes a great encounter!!👍🏼🎥
Great video, I was there myself last week, but unfortunately too many photographers for my liking. Great editing to make them all disappear. Love the scope idea
Great video and long-eared owl footage! Only ever seen one in the far distance so that's a species I'd love to catch up with one day.. Love the new (?) video into too, though I did think the transition from it to the next section was a bit abrupt.
Thanks Geoff, theyre a stunning bird. Sorted the transition now, cheers !!
Nice video Simon!
Cheers Wayne
The owl footage was outstanding thank you for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks 😊
Brilliant video Simon,never seen long eared owls filmed as clearly as this 🦅🦅🦅
Thanks Alan 👀👊🏼
Great video Simon , I love watching your videos , when I was a wedding photographer I used to watch videos of a photographer I admired to motivate me before I went to photograph the wedding . Now I photograph wildlife your videos do the same , so thank you . They are a bird I have only ever seen once aswell so lovely to see your footage
Nice to hear comments like these. Makes it worthwhile, keep at it James 👍🏼📷
Absolutely superb video and photos.I hope you don't mind but I am trying to not copy but to do similar to what you do hopefully I might get almost as good as you
Fantastic. Having recently had my first encounter with this beautiful bird myself I was really surprised at how small they were. I always imagined them as being bigger. Keep up the good work. 😁👍
Bet the field voles dont think theyre small !!🤣 Thanks for watching Malcolm
Another amazing vlog Simon and some great shots. The thermal imaging cameras are amazing I borrowed one from a friend once for spotting badgers.
I need to buy one Lee, a great aid for finding stuff👀👀👌
@@simoneardley definitely
Excellent video Simon. It was great to meet you at the Birdfair. I ordered the Lagopus and it has arrived already. Very happy with the quality. Just to need to get out and use it now 😊
Nice to meet you too, you'll love the Lagopus!! Good luck with it 📷👀👌
Brilliant film! That was a pretty special moment with the young lad - good on you. The Long eared owl is a very difficult species to spot. I have thought of using a thermal camera but wasn’t sure how well they would work in twilight. Seems to work awesome from the footage. What was the unit you were using? The Long Eared owls that I have photographed (western Canada) have a much different eye colour than the orange eyes in your film. Slightly different species between the European and North American I assume. Thanks for Sharing.
Iff that's the simple camo outfit, I'd hate to see a more complex one😂 great video though!
Cheers Norman 🤣🤣
Calmly waiting. Not. I can't wait.
🤣🤣
Awesome video as always Simon! Please can I ask what scope you were using and what it’s really useful for?
Hi James, it was a Pulsar Helion 2 XP50. As you can see on the film, spotting wildlife thats ordinarily very difficult to spot with the human eye
Shape, shine, spacing ,shadow, silhouette, movement
Cheers David, I was nearly there!! 😆
Nice video, but I think that the intro volume is a little bit too high. At first it scared me!🤣