Look at those big eyes! Every night we hear this owl calling (it lives in a cliff behind us). It’s not so much of a ‘hoot hoot’ sound that it makes as a squeal. The Little Owl was imported into New Zealand from Germany and are only found in the South Island. You can also see them in Hagley Park in Christchurch. It’s taken me nearly a year to actually see the owl – as it’s so well camouflaged against the colour of the cliff. I got this shot after it thought I’d got to close to the cliff and move to a nearby tree.

To learn more about the Little Owl and hear it’s distinctive call visit http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/little-owl#