For the last three years now I have been aware of a Tawny Owl roosting in late spring and summer, in some horse chestnuts on my local patch; it does have a favoured tree, so when Pete and I walk down through the trees, we always have a quick look, and very rarely you might get a glimpse of the owl among the foliage - but never enough to get any images though, which does get a bit frustrating at times, to say the least! A few weeks ago, I was walking by the tree in question with another mate (Dave Taylor) and saw the owl sitting high up but in the open. Dave had his camera with him so he started getting a few images but mine was back at the car, so off I went to get it - only for Dave to tell me on my return it had flown to another tree and we just couldn't find it! (Lesson there, I think - always have your camera at your disposal!) So..... today I was on my own, walking around the patch. I didn't walk by the trees, instead plumping to walk down the hedgerow hoping for a warbler or two, but to no avail. Halfway down the first track the 'yaffle' of a Green Woodpecker caught my attention, coming from its' favoured tree. I noticed a pair Green Woodpeckers which then fly into the horse chestnuts - and the noise they were making was amazing! This went on for 5 or 6 minutes, which got me thinking - was the owl about?? I left them carrying on - they were not happy about something! I carried on down towards the wood, noting a Blackcap singing his little heart out (I love their song) and it was good to 3 LR Plovers on the deep settling pool. The only other birds of note today beside these were 22 Swift heading south, so I headed back to the car. On reaching the horse chestnuts, I gave the owls favourite tree the once over - and sure enough, there it was - quite high, but in the open. Remember about the lesson about the camera?? well obviously I haven't learnt yet, so back to the car get the camera, and hope the owl was still there when I returned! Thankfully it was. The foliage around it didn't help matters, but I was quite pleased to get some kind of image at last, a couple of which are below
As always thanks for stopping by!!
