Two Kinds of Owl

I have been doubly blessed this week by seeing two different kinds of owl and getting photos of them in the one week – and when I was not even looking for owls. That’s what I love about wandering in nature, you just never can tell what surprises you’ll see. I have dreamt of looking into a hollow of a tree and an owl looking back out at me and today it happened. A beautiful barn owl whom I accidentally disturbed as it roosted in a tree hollow. And this was when I was stalking a trio of hares playing in a field.

Owls are nocturnal creatures and you have more chance of seeing them as the days get longer at dawn or dusk as they hunt their prey of mainly mice or voles.

The first time I ever heard and then saw a barn owl was when I heard a terrifying screeching noise over my head one dark evening. (In America they are called screecher owls.) However the flight of owls is soundless, as they have specially adapted feathers so that their prey do not hear them coming.

The only other time I’ve seen barn owls in flight is in the distance at dusk when they have been mostly a whitish silhouette. It was thrilling to get a close up of its sandy coloured, speckled back feathers.

And here is the other owl I spotted this week. This is a beautiful tawny owl. I first spotted it when out a walk one rainy afternoon with my husband. I didn’t have my camera with me that time. But I went back to the same place two days later and after a very rainy, windy day and there it was again, sheltering on a favourite perch. I was careful not to disturb it.

I wondered if there might be an owlet or two nearby like I saw last year, I am keeping my eye out … but carefully, as a tawny owl might take my eye out if I inadvertently get too close to its young. A well known bird photographer Eric Hosking lost his left eye to a cornered angry tawny owl.