With this awful Covid still rampant , a friend died from it Saturday last, God bless you George, I am involved in the dog world and serve on a single breed dog committee for Golden Retrievers, we are a committee of eleven and two have had the virus, Ingrid bless her has survived. less of this morbid subject and onto the post.
I have lately spent a reasonable amount of time in our garden, firstly looking for the Peregrine Falcons also of an evening in my hide watching and recording the activity of the Barn Owls.
I have a Schedule 1 licence issued by the BTO and have been informed that all ringing of birds has been cancelled but if possible to monitor the nest boxes and report back as previous, with our boxes having CCTV this makes the job considerably easier. I first put the cameras on last Tuesday the 5th May, we have had signs the Owls have been around all Winter but have avoided the cameras till then , upon checking the Male Barn Owl was in the smaller of the two boxes and the female was sitting in the larger box, I have no idea as to how many eggs as she would not get up but I will have the cameras on again soon so as to monitor the progress.
I have again seen the Peregrines, and yes this time they are Peregrines, confirmation by my pal Rhys
Pigeon on our Roof. Breakfast lunch and tea for the Peregrines, and,y hopefully they will be thinned out as we have so many in our trees and around the area, the Peregrines can only do good. |
A quick look as to where the noise was coming from, these two images are taken at a high ISO,70,000 plus at F4 as it was almost dark.
The Next four images were taken as I saw him move and kept my finger on the remote button. not good images but shows he does not hang about on leaving.
Male Barn Owl leaving the small box.
He again left very quickly but stopped at the large box and went inside to visit the female, this is what we have monitored over previou years.
Another evening but this time he went away hunting and returned into the large box after a few minutes with a mouse.
Hi John, lovely the photos of the Barn Owl, and the Peregrine Falcon, beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHi Bob,
DeleteAt least this time I had a Peregrine, the Barn Owls seem to be a permanent feature.
Stay safe,
All the best,
John
Hi John.
ReplyDeleteIt's not easy to photograph the Peregrine Falcons, so good work.
Nice pictures of the owl's feathers :-)
Can you give me the conditions to set up an owl nest box on the property ? Surface ? Height ?
I have a lot of nesting boxes for passerines.
My condolences for your friend :-(.
Kisses and take care John.
Hi Nathalie,
ReplyDeleteIf you go onto the Barn Owl Trust site they give you all the details regarding Barn Owl boxes, the Owls require a clear access to the entrance to the box, any problems please email, we are so fortunate to have both Barn Owls and Peregrine Falcons around our land. We are so very sad for our friend George.
You keep safe and be careful.
JOHN
Hi John,
ReplyDeleteA delightful bird to photograph. Now I will be able to photograph mine, so watch out. Stay safe, Mike.
Hi Mike,
DeleteI will keep a watch for your bird, at least my lens is back in working order,
Stay safe and well
John
como me gusta ver a esa lechuza asomar por la puerta de la caja nido, es un verdadero placer. Enhorabuena John, gran trabajo!!! Un fuerte abrazo desde el norte de España.
ReplyDeleteHola German,
ReplyDeleteNuestro buho le echa un vistazo a la entrada es tan bueno para nosotros , ya que tenemos otra temporada en marcha, revisare manana para ver cuantos huevos tenemos,
Un abrazo de los Midlands, mantente a salvo amigo,
Jojm
Hi John!!! Lovely pictures of the Barn Owl... Be safe, the Covid19 is very dangerous... I,m sorry for your friend..
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend..
Hi Ana,
ReplyDeleteWe are very hopeful that the Owls are breeding again, we are still staying in lockdown, young friends are shopping for us, it is such a dangerous and frightening virus. You stay safe and well. I is so sad for our friend.
My best wishes
John
Hi John, good to read you managed to fix the lens on your camera. Great to see you had a Peregrines coming over your garden. What would I do to have a Barn Owl breading box near by. You ar so lucky. No change I will have this that close on my balcony two flights up.
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Roos
Hi Roos,
ReplyDeleteFrom what Nikon say this is not an uncommon fault with this lens, hopefully all is ok with the lens. Lucky to see the Peregrine again, I intend to keep a watch for them visiting again. W are so fortunate with the Barn Owls, I will be out in my hide later this evening keeping a watch. Not the best place for an Owl Bos two flights up as you say,
Stay safe and well,
John
I love the Barn owl with black eyes peeking out.. Be safe
ReplyDeleteHi Ana,
ReplyDeleteHe keeps changing boxes makes it difficult to predict where he is going to appear.
You keep safe and well.,
Be careful
John
How sorry I am to hear of your friend's passing John. This is a terrible thing we all seem to be going through right now. Your photos keep us all going I'm thinking. They really are brilliant and fun to see. Thank you so much and you and your dear wife and all your loved ones, please stay happy, safe and healthy. All the best, Denise x
ReplyDeleteHi Denise,
DeleteIt came as such a shock with George, one minute he appeared ok. and then??, it is sch a sad and frightening time for us all, these researchers have got to get a vaccine. So pleased you enjoyed my garden birds,
Thank you for the good wishes and we will stay as safe as we can,
All the best and stay safe
John
Very sad to learn of the death of your friend, John. I hope that the members of the committee, including yourself, who have so far remained safe continue to do so. In some ways I think you are about as lucky a person as one could imagine. You have these wonderful Barn Owls right there to observe at will, and now you have the important task of monitoring them, something many of us would sign up for in a heartbeat. And you also have the added bonus of a local Peregrine Falcon to observe. Pigeons beware! I suspect you are on the menu! Take good care, John. All the best from Miriam and David
ReplyDeleteHi Both
DeleteIt was a shock with our friend, it suddenly seemed very close to home, Ongrid is still improving and the rest of us are fine.
It is so true, who could ask for better having such a task to monitor Bern Owls, I manage to have s=a few hour every evening in the hide , all that land so no danger of Covid , just these wonderful birds to watch.
have seen a Peregrine twice today and the Pigeons are certainly not so brave.
You both stay safe.
John and Veg
Oops ....... that is sad news John that your friend George died of corona. With this my condolences. I read that two people from the association have the virus and only Ingrid survived it.
ReplyDeleteThe ringing of the birds will indeed not continue and that is the same here. You can now follow them with the camera and that is really nice to see :-)
Great that you have seen the peregrine falcons and I love the photos of the barn owl looking out of the nest box!
You could photograph the buzzard flying overhead very nicely.
Stay safe and careful John.
Cordial greetings,
Helma
Hi Helma,
DeleteIt came as a terrible shock when we heard about George, it just goes to show it pays to keep away from hospitals. I am monitoring the Barn Owls for the BTO and the report will be submitted at tghe end of the season.
What more can you ask for on your own land with Barn Owls, Peregrines etc.
You stay safe Helma
John