WHAT ARE THESE BARN OWLS DOING IN FACT WHAT IS GOING ON!!!

I am still out on a nightly basis monitoring these beautiful  birds but still I am unable to come up with any idea a to what is going on, I intend in the next few days to put the cameras on to see who is residing where, I was out in the area near the boxes this afternoon trimming the grass back under the boxes and picked up forteen pellets, some being the largest I have ever seen, we had four that were 3 inches long. I have got a reasonable pile of pellets from the last few days .

The images below were taken over several days but the last few are from one evening , so I will let  the images and report under explain as to the occurence.
I think the most likely scenario is  the resident male in the large box is a young male and the interloper male is an older bird , who is definitely intimidating the young male, the female could also be a young bird hence the self feeding initially, this appears to have stopped but which male is feeding her?, I think either way the chances of breeding  this year are unfortunately fading but I will as instructed by the BTO still monitor all  occurrences, dates and times. 

Male Barn Owl, Large Box.

First look out of the evening, he tends to have a quick look about to see the coast is clear then he's away He certainly has a very sharp looking beak. You can also see the feathers indentation covering the large ear.

And away we go only to return in under four minutes with a mouse, 

Again on another evening, just before flying.

Again this and the next image are just before he flew .

Even though shooting at very high ISO, its still very difficult not to get a blurred image. 

On his way out, so difficult to guess when he's going to fly.

For once I managed to catch him returning, this time with no mouse but this was after his third trip out Its always a very quick activity and into the box.

These are taken on a continuous shooting so it gives some idea of the speed the bird enters the box,.

A quick folding of the wings and were in the entrance.

He put his head out and then thought better of it .

And returned into the box.the time was 21.30 hrs

Then suddenly the Interloper appeared on the front of the small box, by the time I had got myself and camera at the ready which is for the above image, he had landed on the large box, and turned round, I thought he was going to fly straight back to his box, but he obviously has a favourite post, as the resident male , but on the other side of the box. 

So up onto the post and he then about turned.

He then watched the world go by for several minutes, noticeably  he has different eye staining and much different feather markings. 

And then he flew down and entered the box.?? 

It was getting very dark so the images are poor .

But he definitely went into the box with the resident male inside, sqo I rushed out of my hide for the fifty metres to the box ans stood ready to beat the uprights if I could hear  fighting, but all was peaceful, has anybody else  experienced this, certainly a first for me but
I must consult the experts at the Barn Owl Trust.

I then returned to my hide and after some ten minutes {thar seemed more like an hour} the resident male appeared in the entrance, it was getting very dark and even with my set up it was a struggle to see the bird let alone get an image.

Another evening and th resident male in the entrance.

Theses are on his return with a mouse that he is holding in his beak, I have not seen the female for several days so hopefully they are both settling into a routine of him feeding her, only time will tell.

Three days of Owl pellets.

Wood Pigeon.

Landed on top of the small box, just a chance image. 

EYEBROOK RESERVOIR.


I then had a quick visit to Eyebrook Reservoir but on my way called in at the village where I see all the Red Kites. But found that Arthur  had been unable due to Covid to get to the Abattoir for his supplies but normal service will be resumed in the next few days hopefully.
Again I Didn't see the Male Osprey 03/09 but had a visit to the nest site and managed a few long distance images, I think due to Covid the fishery are not stocking many trout and he is visiting Rutland Water instead, or the fish farm.
I still had an entertaining afternoon with the Terns which again were up and down and generally all mover the place, mind I have found something harder to get images from, whilst out with the Barn Owls  I am invariably joined by five bats, so this really is a challenge that I must admit to loosing 10 nil, Just to get the lens to focus on such a small flying creature, and they don't fly slow, I found to be virtually impossible, and decided to carry on ws a fools game but I will maybe try again.???

Common Terns.

Again these birds were so entertaining and a challenge to get some decent images.

Herring Gull.

I was not one hundred percent sure as to this being a Herring Gull so ~I asked my pal Rhys who confirmed it as being so. 

Site O Osprey Nest Site ,

Being a mile from the gateway a bird can be seen on the 'T 'post.

A few weeks ago I thought we had two young in the nest but it appears we have just the one.






I hope you have enjoyed your visit as much as I did in the getting of the images and you agree with my thoughts on the Barn Owls.