Sorry I couldn't resist, I managed to stay away for two days, not so much will power as work commitments :-(
When I arrived at around 7am Sunday I found them to be right on the last tree before the woods and a probable vanishing act! The sun was shining and I felt lucky. All three together and no branch in the way.
Some nice angles and incredible yawns, Its easy to see how they manage to down a whole mouse in one!
But then came the April showers, all of them! Poor little things took it the worst, I went into a hide for a while, as it turned out quite a while :-) Then for coffee and cake, nice cafe by the way. When the rain let up for s short time I went back to see if they had been washed away.
Hope you enjoy, I may go back one day :-))
John
For viewing or photography right place right time is everything. I'd rather be in the right place with poor kit than have the best kit and be in the wrong place.
LOL they look like they could have done with the coffee .
Great photos John
Thanks for sharing them mate.
Cheers
AL
If its no fun Yer no doin it right!
Oh John without doubt the very best photos I have seen to document the wonderful charater of baby owls. I keep looking at them again and again. I want to dry the poor little things off they look so sorry for themselves. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful experience.
Of all creatures, man is the most detestable, he is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain. ~ Mark Twain
Hi John,
excellent photos, just love them!
Did feel sorry for them seeing them so wet though!
They look like they're being very well taken care of, going to be some healthy owls there :o)
Hope you get to go back soon.
Brilliant photo's again John. I love the way they keep their beady eyes on you. Do you know how long owls stay together as a family ?
Hi HM,
Yet again some lovely photos,thankyou so much on your update of these cuties.
Littleowl
Fabulous, Fabulous, Fabulous.... Really not much else to say!
Thank you,
Steve
I won't be happy until I've got a penguin down :)
John, they are just fantastic! Both the beautiful owlets and the fabulous photos, you must be thrilled with them. No wonder you couldn't resist going back to see them again. Poor little things getting all wet like that, it makes you want to dry them off. I keep looking at them too. Wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing with us. A five star treat :-)))
SB
There is something new to learn everyday...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skylark58/
Stonking John!! Just stonking! Interesting to see how much they have developed too in those couple of days!
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
My photos on Flickr
Hi all, thanks for the wonderful comments, great for my ego :-)
The time they stay together can depend on available food (Brenda H) if food is short the smallest one will try and put some distance between it and the bigger (bullies) who will steal its food. I am not sure if I mentioned it in one of the threads but I did see one of the larger Owlets pulling the mouse right back out of the little ones throat after the adult gave it to it. there was quite a struggle and the adult does not get involved with policing them. So as they are together still, food must be good. The harsh winter saw many of us feeding the birds more, layers of food being covered by snow again and again. Vane Farm included, the Tawnies used a hollow more regularly taken by Jackdaws, right next to one such feeding station. It went unnoticed to begin with, as the Tawnies nest very early in the year. The Jackdaws trying to get the hollow back may have moved things along, I did see the last of the Owlets was as good as evicted by Jackdaws dropping small sticks in the hole on its head. It is now a Jackdaw nest! As these two show form last year, in a different site, they can stay together for quite a while.
This reminds me there are one or two places I need to go back to, to see what Owlet action there is this year.
All the best, John :-)
Unknown said: Hi all, thanks for the wonderful comments, great for my ego :-) The time they stay together can depend on available food (Brenda H) if food is short the smallest one will try and put some distance between it and the bigger (bullies) who will steal its food. I am not sure if I mentioned it in one of the threads but I did see one of the larger Owlets pulling the mouse right back out of the little ones throat after the adult gave it to it. there was quite a struggle and the adult does not get involved with policing them. So as they are together still, food must be good. The harsh winter saw many of us feeding the birds more, layers of food being covered by snow again and again. Vane Farm included, the Tawnies used a hollow more regularly taken by Jackdaws, right next to one such feeding station. It went unnoticed to begin with, as the Tawnies nest very early in the year. The Jackdaws trying to get the hollow back may have moved things along, I did see the last of the Owlets was as good as evicted by Jackdaws dropping small sticks in the hole on its head. It is now a Jackdaw nest! As these two show form last year, in a different site, they can stay together for quite a while. This reminds me there are one or two places I need to go back to, to see what Owlet action there is this year. All the best, John :-)
Ooh you make me so envious John. I would want to stay there and just watch them.