Odd Short-eared Owl behaviour...?

While out ringing Woodcock and various other birds at one of my sites in north-west monts last night, I witnessed what I thought were two very odd pieces of behaviour from two Short-eared Owls! Firstly it was raining very heavy last night, so I was really shocked to see the pair of them hunting, and secondly I saw one of the catch and kill a Lapwing! Do they normally take prey this big?