Since September we've had fleeting glimpses of a barn owl at dusk around the farm buildings. By day we've found evidence that the bird was roosting in the buildings at night in the form of droppings and pellets containing indigestible animal bones and fur (it was clear the bird had a liking for our voles!). In fact looking at the bird log we had a few sightings back in August, followed by a long gap, but its possible they all relate to the same bird.
We tried to catch the bird on film by setting our camera trap in its favourite haunt but the best we could manage was this prize entry into the 'worst barn owl photo of the year' competition!
A barn owl exiting stage left
This morning our luck changed. I went into the generator room and startled a bird that was sitting on the rafters. It promptly flew headlong into the window with a crash. Fearing the worst I made my way over only for it to spring to its feet, fly over my head and settle on the beam again. Once the dust settled I realised it was our friend the barn owl. We eyed each other up for a while before he or she slowly walked along the beam and settled into a crevice in the roof space. I slowly got my camera out, turned the flash off and got this photo below
Barn owl Tyto alba keeping a beady eye on me (there is nothing wrong with its other eye by the way, it was just winking!)
It is always a pleasure to see these birds, especially up close. Its been a tough couple of weeks weather wise and hunting can't have been easy. With 'Storm Barney' due to hit us tomorrow things are not getting any easier. There are plenty of voles about though so hopefully it is catching enough to get by when it gets the chance.
In other news, Skomer pup 193 that has been covered in the last couple of blogs was fully moulted today. There was no sign of its mother for the first time since they arrived so he or she is now on their own. As you can see from the photo below it is in very good condition so have got as good a chance of any of making through the winter
Pup 193 today at 25 days old. It's come a long way, and been through a lot since.......
.....being born on Skomer on 22nd October