Little doubt this time, different markings compared to a barn owl. Only one so far, hopefully the other is hiding in the nest box.
Barn owl or tawny?
We heard a tawny hooting last night and these two photos are from the new owl box. Photos aren’t clear but we think a tawny is taking over this box while the barn owls are nesting in the old one. We hope they all get on.
Hooty update
They’re spending more time around the nest box, though not staying in it during the day. A lot of winter to go yet before they nest properly, but it’s looking good so far.
Settling in
Weasel or stoat?
Nap time
Hooty’s settling in and currently having a well-earned nap.
Hooty’s back!
And not just one but two: after a year of empty nests we now have a pair of barn owls taking an interest in the old nest box. We’re going to give them plenty of peace and quiet while they settle in. There’s a lot of winter ahead for them but the field is ready, with plenty of scrubland for hunting.
Autumn oak
That’s enough rain, thank you
‘shrooms
Autumn wrigglies
The lake a year later
What a difference twelve months makes. October 2018 to October 2019.
Ready for Hooty’s return
Thanks to John from the Shropshire Barn Owl Group for his visit and advice about how to attract barn owls back to the croft. We’ve cleaned out the nest boxes, laid fresh bedding, cleared overhanging branches, installed some random fence posts nearby (as perches for the owls) and also installed ‘pencil’ cameras in each box so we can easily monitor them. Now we just wait…
A good year for hay
Robin’s pin cushion
The gall of the Diplolepis rosae gall wasp on a dog rose. Pretty but a bit weird.
Fingerprint?
Fingerprint, or recently cut hay meadow?