barn owls turned up

[pogue]

had an hour and a half at a farm just up the road tonight, as theres an odd rat knocking about around the calf pens.
this farmer wont allow any build up of rats, and is on the phone as soon as he sees one, so its similar shooting to here on the moorings, one here and one there really. first thing i noticed was a pair of barn owls, and one kept going in the barn, so i txt the farmer to tell him and he was over the moon about it
my brother went up there earlier in the year to give him advice on attracting barn owls and siting a nest box, its looking promising
saw a rat dash across the yard after 20 mins, and then 1 ventured from under the hay stack to feed on the oats i'd put under a pallet at the base.
hope the owls feed on the voles in the neighbouring fields and leave the rats for me

 

[Sharpsman]

Always nice to see , I see loads of tawnys but rarely a barn owl - yet a few years ago it was the other way around .

 

[Timmy H]

I had barn owls regularly around me, and a tawny but in the last month, nothing.

 

[Deleted Member 170325]

Been hearing the Tawnys a lot lately but I've not seen one for a while, always great when you spot an owl.

 

[Nords]

Barn Owl through the Pulsar at about 70 yards. Birds are much hard to spot on thermal than animals, it would appear feathers are very good insulators!

 

[Wilco]

You made the farmers night, reduced the rat population and reported on the owls.. that can definitely be put down to a good night

 

[Al2O3]

You're doing a good job keeping the farmer happy. Great news about the barn owls

 

[Trumpetier]

I used to see barn owls regularly around where I live, ain't seen any this year. We have Tawny,s out the back, hear them all the time, but never see them .

 

[mark1007]

Nice shooting sir

 

[junglie2022]

Saw one in our village at dusk a few weeks ago first time since i was a lad, plenty tawnys around, they were very vocal tonight when i was trying to get a few more rats up my allotment, think that's what had spooked them as i'd had three in quick succession an hour after dusk. Then went in for a brew to let them come out again.

 

[Deleted Member 170325]

Barn Owl through the Pulsar at about 70 yards. Birds are much hard to spot on thermal than animals, it would appear feathers are very good insulators!

View attachment 99858

I think it must be something to do with raptors, pigeon, blackbirds, pheasant and all the little birds glow in the thermal, but I was watching a buzzard once when I was out shooting in daylight and could hardly make it out with the thermal, but I'd watched it fly in and land.