I decided last night {25th Aug} after we had had such an oppressively hot day to put the cameras on in the Barn Owl box just to check on how the birds had dealt with the heat.
As I approached the poles that the box is mounted on to connect the battery up, something white caught my eye on the floor, we had an Owlet having fallen from the box, as to how it had done this I'm not sure as it would have had to climb out the box and then cross the front timber platform area and fall over the edge.
After a quick check nothing appeared broken {luckily} it could walk around fine and flap its wings, after falling 3.6 metres this was amazing, so it was a case of contacting someone to help return the youngster to the box, I managed to contact Christine from the Charnwood Ringing Group, who came over to give the bird a check over and return it to the box.
Whilst returning the youngster she could hear the adult female hissing very loudly and also found one of the smaller young in the doorway, they had obviously come to the door to try and get some cooler air.
Avery BIG thank you to Christine for her help in our hour of need.
Avery BIG thank you to Christine for her help in our hour of need.
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Young Owlet on the floor not appearing bothered by me. |
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Here having moved into the longer grass so not so much visible, Christine thinks the longer grass under the box broke the youngsters fall. |
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Awful image, i'm sorry but two larger young top left, three smaller in the centre and one larger to the right. |
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Adult Male leaving the large box. All the following images are taken at ISO 102,400 but I'm starting to get slightly better results. |
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Here showing interest in some bats that join us every evening. |
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We had a Country Fair in a nearby village and one of the attractions was a fly past by a Dakota, as it happened after the show it flew straight over our land and I just managed to get the camera in time to get some images.
Battle of Britain Flight Douglas c 47 Dakota ZA947.
This marvellous old aircraft is maintained by the Royal Air force and looked absolutely magnificent. It is now painted to represent FZ692 of 233 squadron.
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Here you can see the Captain and first officer and a crew member having a look out of the window behind them. Thank you for your visit, I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I did in the getting of the images . A much shorter post than usual due to the Owlet. |
Hello John, luckeley the young Owl was OK and now safe in the box. All the birds and animals suffer from those hot days. It is not normal and I hope the coming season we will have a break and get a normal summer.
ReplyDeleteNice captures of the Dakota.
Regards,
Roos
Hi Roos,
ReplyDeleteIt was so lucky that the Owlet had not broken anything and I have had the camera on since and all six are in the box.
Like you we are wishing for some cooler days, as you say more normal summer weather.
What a wonderful old aircraft the Dakota.
All the best,
John
Que suerte tuvo esa pequeña lechuza de que tu la encontraras, la salvaste de una muerte segura. John enhorabuena por este reportaje, me ha gustado mucho. Un fuerte abrazo desde España. Todo lo mejo amigo mío!!!
ReplyDeleteHola German,
DeleteFue pura suerte que me acerque a la caja para poner las camaras y teniamos un pajara en el suelo, lo he comprobado nuevamente desde entonces entonces y en este momento tenemos a los seis jovenes.
Un abrazo de Inglaterra,
Todo lo mejor
John
What a beauty, fallen from its nest. Lucky you and Christine, well done John.
ReplyDeleteHi Bob,
DeleteIt was so lucky I went to put the cameras om, whilst I waited with it I heard a Buzzard that would have certainly been curtains.
All the best,
John
So glad the little owl was unhurt and returned to the box thanks to her Guardian Angels :) Sweet little thing! Great photos of the parent owl(s), and those other big birds! Magnificent machines aren’t they? Great post again, thank you John :)
ReplyDeleteHi Denise,
ReplyDeleteI was so pleased after picking it up and going over it that no bones were broken, I have never been called an angel before!!!.
They are such beautiful birds and we did not want to to be down a bird, they are in short supply in England these days.
The Dakota was again pure luck in seeing it and as you say what a magnificent machine and so wonderful to see and hear as it flew by.
All the best,
John
Hello John
ReplyDeleteyou have created a beautiful header of the fallen young barn owl. Fortunately, this young owl was fine and helped Christine get the owl back into the nest box.
The photos of this little owl are very touching :-)))))
Your "bad" photo shows what is left of owls in the nest box. Seeing the male in the opening of the nest box is also really great. they are good photos because it is not easy to get these photos clearer.
Funny that you end this post with photos from a dakota :-)
Dear greetings, Helma
PS sorry for my late response but I was very busy with my work and also that terrible heat didn't make blogging any easier. I will soon see what else I have missed on your blog with you ;-)
Hi Helma,
ReplyDeleteSoi sorry to hear you are so busy with work when you should be out getting some of your superior images.
We were so lucky with the young Barn Owl to get it back in the box without any injuries, whilst I was out I could hear a Buzzard calling, this would have most certainly been the end of the youngster.
As for the youngster itself, only a mother could love them but they finish as such a beautiful bird.
Its so very difficult to get good images of the adults as they are so late in appearing, I'm having to shoot at very high ISO numbers.
Could not resist the Dakota.
All the best to you Helma,
John
It is very good that this adventurous little owl was not injured, John, I suspect that it may have been able to spread its wings in the manner of a parachute to help slow its fall. It is an amazing job that you do with these birds. You are a true conservation hero. Enjoy what's left of the weekend. I expect that being retired it doesn't much matter to you whether it is the weekend or not.
ReplyDeleteHi David,
ReplyDeleteIt was more a miracle that this youngster did not break anything, but both of us gave it a good checking over and all was well.
We actually ringed the birds last night and we have got five which is absolutely brilliant, working on the next blog that will be all the youngsters.
Thank you for the comments but we enjoy having these birds so much and are so lucky to have them in our garden.
No being retired as you say, days really don't matter that much, prefer the week days more.
Thank you again for the comment.
All the best,
John