Fast forward two months after seeing the long eared owls at dusk and I finally managed to photograph “our” barn owls at dusk. This was after a few attempts. Barn owls have specially adapted feathers with a comb like edge which make them softer and silent in flight.
So there is no sound to warn you of their approach. At first my reaction was just to stand and stare in awe. They are such beautiful ghost like creatures! Then when I tried to take a photograph I was still too slow off the mark – only managing a wing one evening!
I went back another evening and this time managed to photograph whole owls! Albeit some images are either a bit blurry or rather dark. I still have my photographer L plates on.
Apparently barn owls can glide at speeds as low as 2mph due to their huge wings and low body weight. Barn owls soar low down over fields and use their highly sensitive hearing to catch their prey of mainly voles.
This one swivelled its head round to look at me before heading off westwards over the fields to hunt under the pink evening glow.
Sarah's Wildlife Watch 