Blakiston's fish owl in Hokkaido, Japan

© Martin Bailey/Offset by Shutterstoc

Whoooo's there?. Who’s there? The largest owl in the world

To get us in the Halloween mood, we're offering a seldom-seen sight, the Blakiston's fish owl. Considered the largest of all living owls - it has a 6ft wingspan and can weigh 10lb - it's among the rarest, too. Experts estimate only a few thousand of these elusive birds remain, scattered in pockets of dense ancient forests in Japan, the Russian Far East, China and, potentially, North Korea.

Although it will eat rodents, rabbits and other small mammals, the Blakiston's fish owl feeds mainly on aquatic life, particularly fish, and seeks out waterways that don't freeze during the bitterly cold winters of its range. Rather than swoop in silently on its prey like most owls, this fish owl often walks along the forest floor to find a good fishing spot, perches on the bank, and waits - just like any good angler would. When it sees a fish, it pounces, grabbing the prey with its talons and popping back out of the water to eat.

For more mysterious sightings, make sure you check out our Halloween homepage tomorrow.