YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE THIS. I'M NOT SURE AS I DO????

Having been out every evening since my last post I am grateful to report that no more sightings of the Tawny Owl, so our Barn Owls are hopefully safe for the time being.

Barn Owls are a schedule 1 bird and are on the RSPB and BTO Red Lists , just to monitor these birds I have to be the holder of a schedule 1 licence in my name. having these birds on your land is  a real honour  and give us so much pleasure in watching them but if only it was that simple. However when I was out monitoring the birds on the 9th  of September, another surprise was awaiting me in the form of a fourth Barn Owl, we have 3 males and  the one female we have a commune,I managed an image on the first evening of both Interlopers leaving the small box when it was dark, earlier on that evening the resident male had departed the large box and been away hunting twice  and returning with a mouse on both occasions,  he eventually finished up sat on the top of the roof and calling twice, I'm sure this was a triumphant call to celebrate the female returning into the large box, before leaving not to be seen again that evening.this after he had managed in getting the female to  return from her time with interloper 1 in the small box , I  have managed to get some images of this third male  {Interloper 2} on the 14 th of September so its below for you to see, unfortunately it was virtually dark and by this time he had moved into the large box . If we carry on like this  I will have to put up more boxes. These birds are very rare birds, why are we so fortunate  in getting four of them

I began to wonder if we had a return of last years fledglings but to date I am unable to see any rings on any of the birds.

We have found the Osprey the Males will protect the nest very aggressively but every now and then they allow another bird onto the nest, this is invariably  a bird fledged from the nest  just which is checked by the office on the television and zooming in to read the ring number, just a first time returner calling in to say good day but it does not appear to be this with the Barn Owls which is something I was hoping was the case.

Resident Male, Large Box, 9th September.

First sighting of the evening its certainly getting more difficult in getting decent images with it getting dark that much earlier

The wind blowing his feathers about.

A much happier looking resident male having got his female tp return into the big box.

Having taken two mice in for his lady, he then sat himself on top of the box and gave two calls before heading away hunting. 9th of September .

Movement on the front of the Small Box. 9th of September.

then after about half an hour I made out movement on the front of the small box and even though it was virtually dark I managed to get this image of two birds leaving the box, this is Interloper 1 and 2, this is getting silly.  

Interloper 2 leaving the large box. 14th September.

Having been about for a few days he has obviously decided to get his feet under the table and move into the large box, these birds are obviously living in harmony together so who am I to interfere. He has different shaped eyes to  interloper 1 and the resident male had already been out hunting  and returned with his mice for the female

Resident Male on the front of the large box. 15th of September.19.50 hrs.

Having just emerged from the box, he stood for a short time on the box front before flying down onto the compost bin. No sign of a ring on this bird.

He then flew onto the gate post, getting very dark.

Resident Male , large box 16th of September. 19.30 hrs.

This was his first appearance of the evening and soon was away hunting.

Having returned with a mouse he soon reappeared ready to be away again.

He then came out onto the front and had a look around.

A quick stretch and the away.

This bird appeared on the front of the Small box, unsure as to which bird, I was unable to get an image of his face.

Interloper 2 leaving the Large box having moved in.

Same image as above but with using the new blogger I can't find how to remove it??

Interloper 2, Large box. 16 th of September 19.55 hrs.

He eventually came out of the box but it was almost dark ISO 125600. Again different shaped eyes to  Interloper 1 and no staining as with the Resident bird.

  

Interloper 1, again different eyes.

Resident Male. large staining to eyes,
I just need the female to come out earlier, I have seen her several times  but much too dark to consider an image. I have seen her on the floor of the box on having the CCTV cameras on.










A VERY QUICK VISIT WITH THE RED KITES.
Even though I had an appointment  late afternoon, I still decided to have a very quick trip out and initially headed for the small village where I see the Red Kites, on arrival none were to be seen but luckily within a short time they showed up, I put Richard onto the village and I see from his post he has had a visit only to find the gent is feeding the birds later. 

Red Kite.

Birds were about in reasonable numbers but I only had half an hour so it was lunch, birds and away. 

I find them fascinating to watch  in flight.

This bird appeared to have me spotted.

And watched me as he flew past.

Then came by again for another look.


THEN A LIGHTNING FAST VISIT TO EYEBROOK.

On my return trip home I ad to call by the reservoir just to se if anything much was about, all I saw was a Great Black- backed Gull on the Tern Raft, a very large gull that I have seen giving an Osprey a hard time , ll   are a large and formidable  gull whoes diet includes othergulls , rabbits and vermin, not the nicestof birds.

Great black-backed Gull.


Unfortunately the bird was a long way from me  but you can get some idea of its size,

The pink legs show its species, plus the size of the bird.

Thank you for your visit,I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have in the  getting of the images. My first post on the new Blogger, still bits  I'm not sure about in particular how to delete an unwanted image but I'm sure it will get easier with use.