Driving home over the West Yorkshire moors recently, I spied a ghost-like silhouette in the glare of my headlights.
A large, white bird of prey had buzzed my car before stealing silently away into the darkness.
A barn owl!
I quickly pulled over into a convenient lay-by as my excitement mounted.
Then, as it stretched its wings in a nearby tree and cast a derisory glance in my direction, I spotted its ethereal form again.
We stared each other down for a couple of moments before it spread its white wings and drifted off past the black fretwork of more trees.
Once found throughout rural Britain, these enchanting creatures are sadly no longer part of everyday life.
The bird with the heart-shaped face and haunting black eyes is now normally confined to the virtual world of television.
But, thanks to sterling work done by organisations like The Barn Owl Trust, this mysterious creature is on the march again.
Spotting one in the wild is a stunning experience that brings back echoes of a rural life long gone.
Thinking of the chance encounter three days later still sends a shiver of pleasure down my spine.
If you're not lucky enough to have seen one in the wild yet, make an effort to do so. You won't regret it.
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