Owlet Outings

Last week I was so fortunate to see three tawny owlets in their nest high up in a tree hollow. I was away for a few days and as soon as I was back I went to see what had become of the owlets. One was in the nest and one was sitting in a nearby tree, having “branched out”. Tawny owlets do not “fly the nest”, rather they drop out of it and stay first on the ground, then after a few days climb up off the ground onto branches. There they call to their parents for food when night comes.

So this was the oldest chick I reckon. The next morning I went back to see if I could find it again. I could not spot the one on the branches and noticed that the nest now seemed completely empty. So I looked on the ground near to the nest and sure enough, there was an owlet tucked in between the tree roots.

It had its back to me at first. Then it seemed to be eating and I thought I saw it with a mouse in its beak.

And here it is looking out towards me. I was sure a parent would be watching me too and kept well back. How perilous for it to be sitting on the ground, especially near a path used by lots of dog walkers.

But what of the third owlet? Well, talking of dog walkers I met a man whose dogs had come across the smallest chick on the ground. Thankfully the dogs were very obedient and came back when called. The man had then taken the chick home and called the RSPCA. He had been advised to pop it back on the ground where he had found it and that was where he was heading back to when I met him. What an adventure this little one had had. What a privilege to get a close up view of its wee wizened and scrawny face.