An Eagle Owl in Jarrow?

This lad seems convinced, anyhow.

It's quite likely. They were certainly breeding in N Yorkshire a couple of years ago, according to this BBC report.

The World Owl Trust says: "We regard the confirmation of the Eagle Owl as a resident breeder in Britain as an exciting event on a par with the reintroduction of the White-tailed Sea Eagle and reinforcement of the Red Kite population..."

Amen to that.

I'd love to see one. I wonder if they take magpies, the local bullies of the birdworld. The arrival of bubo bubo would be like the arrival of a Terminator. We could stand to lose a few pigeons, too.

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