Another early start this morning, as I was going out with Paul Riddle, a schedule one licence holder, to check on some more Barn Owl boxes that we have been putting up for the last few years in S.W.Leicestershire. After a bit of networking with a local land owner and Paul picking up Little Owl in a barn -another new Little Owl site- off we went to check on as many boxes as possible. We arrived at our first site, and after erecting the ladders, up I went. A slight scratch on the bottom of the box will allow the owls to vacate if in residence, so we can quickly check the box for eggs, count them and then again quickly depart to leave the birds to get on with their work. What a start! - a clutch of 6 in the first box of the day! We carried on, visiting a dozen more sites throughout the day. Some, unfortunately, had been taken by stock doves, and one with Jackdaw in residence, but though one box had two birds there are no eggs as yet; two other boxes produced a clutch of 5 and 6 eggs respectively. We also returned to a box we had checked a week earlier which had got 4 eggs, but she had been busy and had laid another 2! Our last site produced a Tawny Owl in residence with 2 chicks and 1 egg still to hatch! We checked out a natural Barn Owl site close by. Though a bird had been seen there, there has got to be a bit more work at this possible nest site. What a great day! It makes it all worthwhile when you get days like this.
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The first bird leaves the box
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..........Then the second one
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A couple of Buzzards drifting over the last site
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That's really good news Col. Its good to see all the hard work you and Paul have put in is reaping rewards.
ReplyDeleteCheers Carl, we are so surprised after last years snow decimated the population
ReplyDeletePhoto's came out well mate, a cracking day!
ReplyDeleteIt was mate, I don't think we could have wished for anything better.
ReplyDeleteOh a couple of Long Ears would have been nice!
ReplyDeleteGive it time mate, give it time!!!!
ReplyDelete