Owl on road. Bombay.

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bombaydave2
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Owl on road. Bombay.

Postby bombaydave2 » Wed Sep 28, 2022 3:52 pm

I regularly get reports of calls or observations around possible barn owl sightings in Franklin area and 99% are not barn owl. Recent report - 11pm. Owl flew from road as car approached. Observer said size if hawk. Def not morepork. Light face and belly although headlights on full beam. Trying to rule out misidentification. Any reports/ observations on morepork on roads? Are kahu active at night during darkness?
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Oscar Thomas
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Re: Owl on road. Bombay.

Postby Oscar Thomas » Wed Sep 28, 2022 4:21 pm

Some paler Harriers could fit that description, still much bigger than Barn owls (although I don't doubt they are around South Auckland). Could have been disturbed by something to be seen at night. All hunting is diurnal according to HANZAB.
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Neil Fitzgerald
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Re: Owl on road. Bombay.

Postby Neil Fitzgerald » Wed Sep 28, 2022 9:10 pm

I wonder why it was definitely not morepork. That would be much more likely than kahu. Ruru often feed on or near roads, size is very unreliable for ID (especially from a car), and headlights could make tones appear different to daylight.
bombaydave2
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Re: Owl on road. Bombay.

Postby bombaydave2 » Thu Sep 29, 2022 4:17 pm

I agree. I think its morepork and observer exaggerated size. FYI. There are barn owls in south Auckland Franklin region. Still trying to locate main area but have been seen/ heard in pokeno, ararimu and Bombay over last 3 years.

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