THE BARN OWLS, YOU REALLY COULDN'T MAKE IT UP!!!!

If this season with these beautiful birds had to date been bizarre to say the least, after an evening monitoring on the 1 st of September things really went off the scale, I was sitting in my hide  and the resident male having departed and returned with his mouse, I settled in for the wait for the Interloper to decide to leave . As I was watching the large box as after having the CCTV cameras on that's where all the birds were roosting fortunately, the night went on and it was getting progressively darker when I noticed through the corner of my eye some movement in the entrance into the small box, I had a quick look and nothing was really showing so I swung the camera round  on the tripod and took a quick image, shooting at ISO 125600 is never easy but to my amazement sat on the front of the platform after coming out of the box was an adult Tawny Owl,   the bird sat for a minute or two before flying , so we are on four owls two species in two boxes. After this the Interloper came out of the large box after about five minutes but by then the lens would not focus so I made it back to the house to try another night. I start to wonder what is going to appear then???.
Then on the following evening, the resident male emerged at about 20.15 hrs , but for the first time did not return  with his usual mouse, this initially I found very worrying, but then at 20.40 hrs the interloper emerged from the small box, fortunately the Tawny had just the single day in situ or I'm sure we would have had two dead Barn Owls,followed some 10 minutes later by the female, so my thoughts with the resident bird are if you want to move in with the interloper either he can feed you or feed yourself, I'm going to hunt for myself. This all changed a couple of days later but I will let the images tell the tale.
I have been out this evening and just returned in at 20.49hrs and have seen all three birds but the resident male has returned twice this evening with a mouse and entered the Small box I would say to feed the female, so he is wooing her with food, will she return to the Large box,? he is certainly proving himself as a good provider, I have yet to see the Interloper bring her any food, she has to make her mind up.

Resident Male, Large box .

First sighting of the evening, unfortunately its getting darker so much earlier, I will soon have to take my tea out into the hide.

Out onto the front of the box. 

Then an about turn and up to the other end, and then away hunting. 

And on his return with his mouse the following show how the bird folds his wings, this happens as fast as the camera could take images.

At this time the female and interloper were still residing in the large box. 

He then re emerged from the box and took up position on his post .

And then he was away again hunting. 

Tawny Owl. Small Box.
Then after seeing some movement in the doorway, I managed a few images even though it was much darker of this bird, difficult to see being such a dark bird. unfortunately not a good image, This was about 20 minutes after the resident male had departed for the second time..

Resident Male on the evening of the 2  nd of September on his favourite post.

After returning to the box only to re emerge some 10 minutes later.

Out onto the front. 

Then an about turn and back into the box. 

Only to be back out after a couple of minutes. 

And away hunting. 

Only to return with a mouse and take it to the female in the small box. a crafty move to hopefully get her to return into the large box. This caught me totally unaware and the camera was still on the large box so a quick swing round and shoot, hence the poor image.

Then after feeding his girl, back onto the front of the box looking smug with himself.

A quick shake to re adjust all his feathers so he looks his best.

Then he waited a few seconds and then was away again hunting, not sure if he returned again, as it became too dark.

Interloper Male. Small Box, 6 th of September.

Here appearing ready to be away hunting from the small box. it was virtually dark, the female appeared some 15 minutes later

Unfortunately none of the images are that good,I was fighting the darkness, its getting dark earlier

I MADE TRACKS ON MY AFTERNOON OUT FOR SOME TIME WITH THE RED KITES.
I eventually finished up in Horse Lane, admittedly  I didn't get so close to the birds but at least I could watch them as they flew about, this time they were about 300 metres away in the field adjacent to where they are fed, this was between 14.30 hrs and 15.00 hrs, Richard has had a visit and was informed they are not being fed until 18.00m hrs this time of the year. I will have to try and have a word with Arthur.

This pair were swooping about and eventually had this close call. 

And then parted and kept clear of each other.

 They really have a piercing eye and an evil looking beak. 

This bird circled over a tree for several minutes. 

They appear to be the same image but subtle differences. 

I hope you have enjoyed your visit as much as I have in the getting of the images and the putting together of this post.