Easter Eggs

Kestrels, as well as Barn Owls, are breeding earlier than normal this year and this clutch of five eggs is my first find of 2014.

Interesting Recoveries

In late October I ringed my latest ever brood of Barn Owls and this fellow was the oldest of the brood of three. With late broods it is always going to be touch and go whether or not they manage to survive the perils of their first Winter and so it was particularly pleasing to find him again yesterday on his new territory. He has chosen very well and the field margins that surround the crops are providing fantastic hunting opportunities and this can clearly seen by the pictures below. I am sure that he will join the breeding population later in the season.

As a chick October 2013

Mature plumage April 2014

Food Cache

Productive Field Margin

Today I found this much more experienced male who had been ringed as a chick in April 2007. He is the second oldest Barn Owl that I have ever recovered and he is currently breeding with a new two year old partner and their chicks will be fledging later in the season

Full Set

The discovery of this lady in one of my Little Owl boxes this evening completes the full set of nest box breeding owls and raptors for the farm in Antrobus again this year. Currently there are Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Little Owl and also Kestrels in residence. Perhaps what is remarkable is that the majority of the habitat on the farm is used for sheep grazing, which, as well as being very unusual in this part of the country, is also associated with providing poor habitat for small rodents due to the substrate of the grass layer being too closely grazed. Undeterred all of these birds continually choose to live and breed on the farm and long may that continue!

Close Shave

Luckily we have chosen to design bomb-proof boxes and the benefits are clear to see. Despite the large bough plummeting to the ground, the Barn Owl box stood steadfastly up to the adversity and, upon checking it this evening, this female had carried on regardless with her first chick hatching today.

First Barn Owl Chick Of 2014

With just a couple of hours to spare this evening I decided to visit a nearby farm to check upon one of my Tawny Owl boxes. Upon arrival I was told that Stock Doves had taken up residence in the Tawny box but that Barn Owls had been seen flying to and from the nearby Barn Owl box. The box itself was covered in tell tale whitewash droppings, a sure sign that there were birds present and inspection revealed that this was indeed the case.

Following the curious pattern of recent discoveries this bird was a previously unringed female  and she too was entering her fourth year. As an experienced bird she was already incubating a clutch of five eggs along with a newborn owlet. The male bird was, as is the norm, roosting elsewhere but he is providing his mate with plenty of food which has enabled this large, early brood to be reared. A Wood Mouse lay uneaten inside the box and pellet remains included Short tailed Field Voles along with a Water Vole skull. Early indications so far this year seem to suggest that the birds are laying much earlier than in the past few seasons and that clutch sizes are bigger too.

Tawny Breeding in Full Swing

This lovely 3rd year spring* bird became the second breeding Tawny Owl that I have found this week. Both have been using nest boxes at new breeding sites which is particularly pleasing. She was in remarkably good condition and quickly settled back inside her nest box to continue her maternal duties. 

This find also represented reward for Robyn, the landowner, whose wildlife-friendly attitude has now resulted in three owl species (Barn, Little and Tawny) setting up home. 

* identifiable as two generations of feathers are found on the wing with some primaries and secondaries having adult patterns whereas others still have the juvenile patterns; tail with adult markings.

After a Gap Year

Following last year's barren breeding season, when many owls chose not to mate, it was good to find my first chick from 2012 that has joined the breeding population. This male was ringed in June 2012 at Pickmere and he has travelled 4 km south to find a breeding territory of his own. His mate is currently incubating a clutch of eggs.