ON THE BACK: “Tawnies" are the most numerous of the owls found on the UK mainland. The characteristic "twit-twoo" of the male and "kewick" of the female are familiar to many but, being a largely nocturnal species, they are seldom seen. They are relatively sedentary. As the last ice age receded, tawny owls failed to colonise the island of Ireland and many of our outlying islands. In ringing studies none have been recorded crossing to or from mainland Europe.