Saturday 7 December 2019

Winter Thrushes and a Barn Owl

My first post for December follows a similar theme to my last posting.There are still plenty of fieldfares present in the countryside gorging themselves on the abundant berry crop.On my latest trip out with the camera I found more fieldfares together with a few redwings feeding on the hawthorn berries.They were showing well close to the road and I was able to get some nice shots from the car before they were moved on by passing tractors and cars.I was on my way to a nearby location for barn owls where at this time of the year the barn owls are often out in the early afternoon hunting when the weather is good.

The barn owls appeared on cue around 2pm and were busy hunting .I was joined by Ian and Kevin and we all had a great time trying to capture the action.I got some reasonable images of the owls with field voles they had caught returning to their home in nearby farm buildings.These hunting barn owls will be the subject of a later post.In the meantime I am showing other recent images of these barn owls as they perched up in the nearby hawthorn hedge allowing a close approach for some nice portrait shots.

Hope you like my efforts at capturing these lovely birds and when the weather improves I will be back for more action and hopefully return with yet more images of these enigmatic birds.Barn Owl photography is addictive and is a wonderful way to spend a winter's afternoon.Thanks for looking in and hope my images take you well away from General Election and Christmas preparations.


















4 comments:

  1. Hello Brian, my compliments for these most wonderful photos of the Barn owl. Found your blog and follow your work sinds a short while. Living in Belgium but remaining Dutch.
    Roos

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    1. Hello Roos. Tried to email you but it didn't work !! Thanks for your kind comments re my images.I am now looking at your photography which is excellent.Great kingfisher shots on your recent blog.Enjoy Christmas in Belgium and enjoy your photography in 2020.

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  2. This is a fine series of images. After a whole lifetime of birding, Barn Owl is a bit of a nemesis for me. I have seen it in the United States, Australia, South Africa, the UK and probably a couple of other spots I can't just bring to mind right now, but only ever for fleeting glimpses, or perched during the day partly concealed in a palm - situations like that. I have never seen it hunt. i would love the experience of watching an owl quarter a meadow at dusk hunting for prey, or carrying a mouse home to hungry mouths. Maybe one day.....in the meantime picture such as yours fill in the gap.

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