Author Archives: sarahthurlbeck

Here are some photos of a variety of chicks seen outside during the last fortnight. A first for me was seeing these shelduck chicks on the Isle of Jura. They looked like fluffy, stripey humbugs! There had been five when I first saw them. I witnessed some drama when these four came under attack fromContinue reading “Chick these out!”

In just over three weeks there have been dramatic changes in the barn owl box. On 5th May the first chick hatched out of its egg. The parents looked rather astounded! Every second day after that another chick hatched out. The dad did a great job of delivering voles onto the box and the mumContinue reading “Chicks in the Box”

It has been an exciting few days. I’ve been walking daily in the wood trying to photograph the tawny owl parents. Sometimes they’ll see me first and fly off. The other day I heard this parent before I saw him, as he was making a very soft and low “hoo..oo” noise. I’d seen an owletContinue reading “Protective Parents”

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 aContinue reading “Owlet Outings”

Over the weekend I went walking along the river Tyne in Haddington looking for kingfishers. On my first evening looking I had no luck but was treated to lots of other interesting sights. First I saw a pair of colourful bullfinches feasting on dandelion seeds on the path in front of me. The male hasContinue reading “Riverside Ramble”

It’s been over two years since I’ve last seen a tawny owl, although I have often heard them twitting and too-ooing in the evenings. Yesterday I was thrilled to find a nest with three tawny owlets snuggled up inside. It was in a tree hollow that I’ve kept an eye on over the years. I’veContinue reading “Tawny Owlets !”

The ospreys are back! They’ve flown thousands of miles from Africa to breed here and are back to fishing the lochs again. Today we took a picnic to our local loch and were treated to views of not just one but two ospreys fishing. I couldn’t get close to see them catch their prey butContinue reading “Osprey Day”

News from the barn owl nest box! I needn’t have worried about the crows taking over the box. About a month ago I noticed the owls staying in the box during one day and seeing them off. They stretched out their wings to make themselves look bigger and scared the crows off. Two weeks agoContinue reading “Easter Eggs !”

Two years ago we made and put up a barn owl box in a barn belonging to friends. We know that some barn owl chicks were reared there, so this year we have put a security camera looking into the box so we can peek inside. It’s a great way to observe the barn owlsContinue reading “Love is in the …box”

The “golden hour” for nature watchers and photographers is the hour at the beginning or end of the day just after sunrise or just before sunset. Then the light is low and takes on a magical golden quality. Here are some photographs taken this winter at both ends of the day. Below is a brownContinue reading “Golden Hour Moments”