Zapp Posted March 4, 2015 Report Share Posted March 4, 2015 Last night wabbitbosher and I went over to near Downham Market to pick my truck up after its engine rebuild. On our way back, for some reason his satnav had a bit of a brain dump and ended up taking us along every single lane road from west Cambs into Northants, and on the way we saw no fewer than 4 barn owls out and about. I remember a time not too long ago when, unless you knew where to look, it was a bit of a treat to see one of these birds once in a while. Is anyone else noticing increased sightings of them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted March 4, 2015 Report Share Posted March 4, 2015 Great isn't it, we are seeing more and more. They had a reasonable winter! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shooterluke Posted March 4, 2015 Report Share Posted March 4, 2015 Yes my parents live in clayton a small farming village in doncaster i see 1 or 2 every so often Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted March 4, 2015 Report Share Posted March 4, 2015 (edited) Yes, I see more and more about now. As an aside, did you see the Wildlife programme on BBC2 last night about owls? Featured two hand reared Barn Owls. Last night wabbitbosher and I went over to near Downham Market to pick my truck up after its engine rebuild. On our way back, for some reason his satnav had a bit of a brain dump and ended up taking us along every single lane road from west Cambs into Northants, and on the way we saw no fewer than 4 barn owls out and about.I remember a time not too long ago when, unless you knew where to look, it was a bit of a treat to see one of these birds once in a while. Is anyone else noticing increased sightings of them? Edited March 4, 2015 by Penelope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted March 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2015 As an aside, did you see the Wildlife programme on BBC2 last night about owls? Featured two hand reared Barn Owls. I didnt, I'll have to look it out on Iplayer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted March 4, 2015 Report Share Posted March 4, 2015 In the woodland behind my place of work, we have at least 3 Barn Owls flying around. And only yesterday, there were two Red Kites flying above my street, which is nice to see.This is in a busy town. A few years ago, they would have only been seen in the Brecon Beacons area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted March 4, 2015 Report Share Posted March 4, 2015 A neighbour has some old farm buildings where a barn owl appeared to be resident. A couple of years ago it was dislodged while a lambing shed was being build and I used to see it a lot on my place, until a buzzard killed it in broad daylight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted March 4, 2015 Report Share Posted March 4, 2015 (edited) Plenty about. I had a spin over to North Norfolk and back last Sunday and saw five different birds. I have a mate who helps with ringing in Breckland. I've got some pictures somewhere..... Edited March 4, 2015 by Whitebridges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted March 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2015 We had one on one of the smaller farms where I shoot a couple of years ago. I had seen it a few times whilst out and about and guessed it must be nesting nearby but didnt know where. Then one day I got caught in a downpour and ran into an open sided machine shed to take shelter. I was there for a couple of minutes when I noticed a movement very nearby in my peripheral vision. I looked up to see a big, round ghostly white face about 6 feet from me, staring right at me from around a pillar. Having (almost) stifled a girl-like scream and done that little "surprised" dance, I realised that it was our resident owl, and not Jason from Friday the 13th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted March 4, 2015 Report Share Posted March 4, 2015 We are very fortunate in this area Lincs / Norfolk / Cambs borders in that there are a lot of owls , infact when travelling to work or going shooting early morning / late evening it is rare not to see one or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnphilip Posted March 4, 2015 Report Share Posted March 4, 2015 Yes, I see more and more about now. As an aside, did you see the Wildlife programme on BBC2 last night about owls? Featured two hand reared Barn Owls. i watched it, was an amazing programe to i have always wanted one as a pet , hey ho some day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffjjack Posted March 4, 2015 Report Share Posted March 4, 2015 Loads here, tawneys in the back garden, loads of barns in the fields next to us. Local nest box's with nesting birds every year.... little owl nest in an old oak tree that we see when out lamping (sits on mole hills) Love to see em Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobt Posted March 4, 2015 Report Share Posted March 4, 2015 we have tawneys, barn and little owls, often find them at either side of a field, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted March 4, 2015 Report Share Posted March 4, 2015 Its something that I don't get too exited about, merely due to the fact I see enough around not to think its an odd sighting, Yes i appreciate them the same with Tawny Owls those to i see plenty around, little Owls are another. One thing that does cause the odd comment is when your out calling Foxs and the barn Owl dive bombs either me calling or an electronic caller out in the field. Having a Barn Owl swoop just inches from your head when your not expecting it makes you jump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted March 4, 2015 Report Share Posted March 4, 2015 I see lots of Barn Owls when out working at night. Very encourging to see so many considering few years ago their numbers were in decline. Sadly,i hit and killed one in my van a few months back though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Full Pelt Posted March 4, 2015 Report Share Posted March 4, 2015 We are very fortunate in this area Lincs / Norfolk / Cambs borders in that there are a lot of owls , infact when travelling to work or going shooting early morning / late evening it is rare not to see one or two. This is very true, and really good numbers of Kestrels in Lincolnshire, I've seen dozens over the wayside, Fens and Wolds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tallshort Posted March 4, 2015 Report Share Posted March 4, 2015 (edited) There is a pair in the woods behind me, their call sounds a bit like our 1 year old crying, missus went up the stairs about 5 times before she realised what it was. Edited March 4, 2015 by Tallshort Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ack-ack Posted March 4, 2015 Report Share Posted March 4, 2015 Is anyone else noticing increased sightings of them? Yes. I was nearly knocked out by one last autumn whilst investigating a derelict farm with a work mate who was familiar with the site. As i walked through a doorway my pal said something and as i turned to hear better the mack daddy of Barnys came bombing past my swede nearly resulting soiled under crackers. When i asked him what he said, he said "watch out for the Barnowl". Needless to say, had i known it resided there prior i would have not have disturbed it but i was had proper! Great to see so many down here, i reckon the 1m headlands have made quite a difference, i find alot of small mammal fieldsigns when surveying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted March 4, 2015 Report Share Posted March 4, 2015 had 2 fledge out of a brood of 4, on my fathers farm, had them ringed, also had little owls breed for the second year in a row. where I could this year put my feeders on the edge of cover crops so any rodents could be taken by owls of a evening. snow is the real killer, the chap that ringed ours said both birds hunt to feed the young and at the peak will be looking to catch 4-5 mice size prey per bird. had several evenings at dusk sat in the car watching them return with food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNS Posted March 4, 2015 Report Share Posted March 4, 2015 We had a couple on the farm we live next too. But no sign at all of them all of last year (I suspect due to the barn being disturbed by its new billionaire owner). However since the start of this year 2 are back again and fabulous to see - especially as one seems quite happy to hunt by our back garden about 630 / 700am as I am leaving for work. Needless to say I've been late every day that I have seen it ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted March 4, 2015 Report Share Posted March 4, 2015 My favourite bird of all. We have Tawny owls on our rough shoot but for the first time ever last season we spooked a Barn owl on our syndicate shoot; wonderful. I recall as a small boy, my Dad bringing one home with him after it had bounced off the windscreen of his wagon, but it sadly died within a couple of days, and a few years ago I had a similar experience when driving the works wagon when a sudden flash of white and a tremendous bang left a perfect powdered imprint of what I realised was a Barn owl on the windscreen. I pulled over but couldn't find it, but the 'ghost' of it was on the windscreen for days. Crying shame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootnfish Posted March 4, 2015 Report Share Posted March 4, 2015 We have owl around here quite often see a barn owl fly past our window in the evening but worryingly we also see it fly right along the center of the road about 3ft off the ground as it goes past its been lucky so far but I would imagine its days are numberd. Also see little owls but more in the summer. But in the last couple of months have been hearing a tawny owl but haven't seen it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Good shot? Posted March 4, 2015 Report Share Posted March 4, 2015 (edited) Not seen one for a while, used to watch two quartering the fields behind our house. One of our most beautiful birds in my opinion. Was out one night last week for a couple of hours or so on one of my permissions trying out my new diy add on night vision for the first time watching fox,rabbit and badger at 100+ yards distance and then a barn owl appeared and kept circling the same area. Magical bird and great to watch for 10 minutes or so.I saw my first Tawny Owl on this same permission last year. Didn,t fire a shot in all this time out as I was too preoccupied watching all the normally unseen activity. Probably do it again and leave the gun unloaded.Or put together a NV spotter,now that I have done my first add on. PS I found the Owl program last night to be fascinating and worth a watch if it repeats. Edited March 5, 2015 by Good shot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daystate 177 Posted March 4, 2015 Report Share Posted March 4, 2015 Funny you start a topic on this night before last I saw 5 this was from Tamworth to Boston and back couldn't believe my eyes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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