January 23 2020. Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR). I mentioned hearing the pre-dawn calls of the Eagle Owl in the previous post. We saw it a few times after that but never well, only in low light and as far-too-brief glimpses. Once, around 9 pm, it landed in the top branches of large tree that overhung our campfire area. It was difficult to make out, an amorphous lump that only became convincing when it launched itself airborne and slipped away. Another time we could see it as a small blip atop a high dune, calling out and leaning forward each time as if to add emphasis. Our best sighting, one enjoyed by many in our group because the lead car stopped to watch it, was at first light and the bird was about 100M away on a dune face. As we watched, it took flight to swoop down and past us.
The Eagle Owl is a close relative of both the Snowy Owl and our familiar Great-horned Owl, and looks like a much larger version of the latter. It is the world’s largest owl (with a 2metre wingspan) and of course, as is often the case for scary looking animals of the night, myths have built up to account for its presence, it is persecuted in some cultures.
Oddly the best bird guide for this area does not recognize its presence here, limiting its range quite far north of us in Iran and beyond.