We may be rewarded if we listen carefully when walking in Richmond Park and Bushy Park by hearing little owls uttering their plaintive yelping mewing calls from the many ancient oaks.

However, the smallest of our six species of owl is non-native to Britain, being introduced from Continental Europe in the late 19th century and now firmly established throughout the country.

Little owls are active both by day and night and can be seen out in the open perching on fence posts and dead boughs, bobbing up and down if alarmed. Their huge piercing yellow eyes quaint frowning rather comical expression and small dumpy silhouettes are sure recognition features.

Low level undulating rather woodpecker-like flight is characteristic of little owls. If one flies by with sun glowing through its plumage, the colours seem to echo the delicate buff and grey flecked hues of parasol mushrooms. Occasional hovering just above ground also occurs sometimes.

Richmond and Bushy parks with their mature oaks and roving herds of deer form an ideal habitat, as the owl’s diet consists of dung beetles and other invertebrates plus earthworms and occasional small birds.

Both parks are also prime locations for rose-ringed parakeets and some vocal interaction can sometimes be heard between the two species.

Parakeets, in addition to their usual familiar harsh-squirking, often issue single calls that sound not unlike little owls which is sometimes confusing to the listener.

Both little owls and parakeets nest in hollow trees or boughs, so it is interesting to speculate to which extent competition occurs for suitable holes. Indeed, is there a risk that the ever-expanding parakeet population will adversely affect that of little owls or the rather endearing jackdaw and other hole-nesting species?

Tawny owls also nest in the parks. It is about 50 years since barn owls (pictured) bred in Richmond Park, although spasmodic sightings occur from time to time.

Sadly, the 15-year-old tawny owl named ‘Merlin’ housed in the Wimbledon Common stable yard has been stolen!

What possesses people to do things like this? Let us hope that the lovely popular bird is recovered before long and maybe someone nearby may notice something suspicious among neighbours.

The Wimbledon Common Conservators once held discussions with the Barn Owl Trust to introduce a breeding pair on the common. However, this habitat is unsuitable because barn owls, when hunting, fly low so therefore speeding traffic on nearby roads would pose acute dangers, especially the A3.