Short-eared Owl and lots of birdsong

I had another tantalisingly brief glimpse of an owl at a distance over the Steyning Levels this afternoon, but at least this time I got a good enough view to identify it as a Short-eared Owl.  I was actually looking at something else (which turned out to be a Herring Gull) when I caught sight of the owl hunting along the riverbank.   I followed it quite a long way, until I was momentarily distracted by a Green Woodpecker landing on a telegraph pole and it passed behind some trees.  But I got a good enough view to be sure it was a Short-eared.  The Green Woodpecker flew down onto the tussocky grass, and seemed to be finding something to eat on the waterlogged meadow.  I had been watching a flock of Linnets in the top of one the tallest Ash trees and listening to Songthrushes, Dunnocks, Great Tits, Bluetits, and Long-tailed tits.  As I returned along the outer bank of Bramber Castle in the dusk the sound of birdsong rose to a crescendo.  Quite an unusual occurrence at the end of January.