Anyone else seeing alot of barn owls

[Stuart Philpott]

This is impart a note to self.for years now I've seen more barnies than normal at this time of year..but never really documented the exacts..in the last week while driving from different hell hole building sites I'm on 5 sightings in 8 drives......and all will be different locations..IE different owls.2 are super cool brake hard very VERY close experiences.

Several things:
I think folks are getting out exploring for new breeding territories right now I don't know that?
I'm covering alot of ground just before dusk.so potentially prime time to see a hungry owl on it's first forrays of the night
Jees.colour difference.when one sees different individuals quickly one really appeciates how different the colours are within the species.I'll add I'm driving home shattered from the game I grind a crust out in,my observations are brief and transient my focus is the road and it's unfathamobly selfish users.but colour has really smacked me these last days

Is anyone else seeing this ?

cheers

stu

 

[russellsnr]

Have seen 3 together hunting the same field over the last week and that is strange as I believe they are territorial at this time of year. Going out on Sunday to a place where last year saw 16 owls in two hours. This image taken on the 1st March 25. Russ.

 

[Stuart Philpott]

Maybe the leaning is we are right at the beginning or territory set up Russ? and that might explain 3 together as the hierarchy ain't been sorted quite yet? I'd summize the most important thing right now is building body mass to breed and fiinding a place to do so.

Maybe they tolerate each other at this time.leastways to some extent?

Cheers for sharing..the one I braked for tonight.(which was the final straw in this thread existing) was the polar opposite to the bird you have shown ....so pale hardly any grey ha and it was meters from me. A few nights back the spitting image of your bird

 

[Nod]

Years ago, I used to drive up a long, steep hill in an old Diesel LandRover once a week at the same time. One evening, a barnie dropped off a branch right in front of me so I braked (the Landy actually stopped quite fast, being on a steep uphill!) and the owl landed on the road before waddling off through a gateway. The next week, exactly the same happened but, 1/2 expecting it, I just slowed down a bit and the owl happily rode the bow wave in the air that the Landy was providing before peeling off through a different gateway about 1/2 a mile up the hill! Only happened for about 6 weeks - I'm guessing that his/her timetable didn't coincide with mine before and after.

 

[Stuart Philpott]

Years ago, I used to drive up a long, steep hill in an old Diesel LandRover once a week at the same time. One evening, a barnie dropped off a branch right in front of me so I braked (the Landy actually stopped quite fast, being on a steep uphill!) and the owl landed on the road before waddling off through a gateway. The next week, exactly the same happened but, 1/2 expecting it, I just slowed down a bit and the owl happily rode the bow wave in the air that the Landy was providing before peeling off through a different gateway about 1/2 a mile up the hill! Only happened for about 6 weeks - I'm guessing that his/her timetable didn't coincide with mine before and after.

because the daylight is opening up so fast this time of year Nod? Lovely tale thank you buddy.

A tale back............ told before......... but hey we have been here 30 year along time back " The major" local landowner and guy who gave a chance at house ownership to a simple humble couple coveted owls. Major had a rough bit for said owls behind our hovel. Back in that day stu would have ickle owls in garden and barnie huntiing just behind our house

So I made this hot bed to push some food on for my family, whist the male barnie hunted besides me.Nod ..............we were good with each other we saw each other oft.but I didn't know how good.

I've got me head down in compost and potting on young veg and unknown to me a ghost has landed besides me yards away. I see him and "jump" ( that uncontrollerable reaction to somethiing unforeseen we all have) and and scare him .It's an epic moment of shame Nod.it haunts me.it really really haunts me.

He uttterly knew I was there ...I'd summize somewhere in the bottom of my hot bed he heard a rodent.and was so cool with me he landed beside me ( by besides me 345yards utter max to wait for his kids meal.............and me I blew that trust and his ickle un's dinner

I morn those days past mate.I remember checking times after I walked head down to house...........bang on mid day 12 noon stu spooked a barnie who had spent so so much time with me he though we were mates..makes ya wanna weep

 

[mav]

yes seeing lots, At my local reserve they are out every Day there were 5 out at once the other day,
have been to a new location last couple of Days, one been out today all afternoon

 

[Dale.]

A bird I am close to desperate to photograph. I did see one in January, I was driving at about 10pm and one flew under a footbridge in front of me. Spookily, it was close to one of my Kingfisher locations. Again whilst driving, I got a brief sigthing of one last year.

I have been told about a pair, fairly locally and also, they have been mentioned nearby by a few buddies. Me though, no, I'm not seeing lots but they are definately here and seeing them in passing, might suggest there are a few around and that they are very active.

 

[russellsnr]

Have a two man portable hide in a private field for bird photography at the time of setting everything up was not aware of any owls but now no there is a pair in a small disused farmers small shed that we have to walk past to get to the hide so very happy just now. Before anyone says anything we are aware of the law concerning Barn Owl nest sights so will keep well away. Russ.

 

[Stuart Philpott]

A bird I am close to desperate to photograph. I did see one in January, I was driving at about 10pm and one flew under a footbridge in front of me. Spookily, it was close to one of my Kingfisher locations. Again whilst driving, I got a brief sigthing of one last year.

I have been told about a pair, fairly locally and also, they have been mentioned nearby by a few buddies. Me though, no, I'm not seeing lots but they are definately here and seeing them in passing, might suggest there are a few around and that they are very active.

Dale I think it's really worth driviing around your locale, slow, just before dusk just hunting them..I know this is one you really want ........work the weather matey
Deadicate a few eves to base hunting/ sightings.you have all the skills to move on from there.

Buddy I am so time pressed I don't photograph me ruddy front door step.but once upon a time made the odd barnie frame...................ain't everyfing about light bro?

_S2I3428 wing flip smj tdn add c by Stuart Philpott, on Flickr

is that enough to get you doing some REALLY slow drivin' stuff............................ me mate russ is teasiing you aswell with his cool frames I'm reckoning between us we can up your hunger

 

[russellsnr]

A bird I am close to desperate to photograph. I did see one in January, I was driving at about 10pm and one flew under a footbridge in front of me. Spookily, it was close to one of my Kingfisher locations. Again whilst driving, I got a brief sigthing of one last year.

I have been told about a pair, fairly locally and also, they have been mentioned nearby by a few buddies. Me though, no, I'm not seeing lots but they are definately here and seeing them in passing, might suggest there are a few around and that they are very active.

PM'd you

 

[Royal]

I'm pretty sure last year was a mast year. Oak trees produced a ton more acorns than normal. In turn lots more mice and voles. I happened upon a lot of breeding pairs of barn owls. Captured some great shots.