Long-lived

I went out today intending to check upon Tawny Owls and was surprised to come across this male Barn Owl at Byley. What makes him somewhat special is his age; he had been ringed as a chick on 27 April 2007 and he represents the second-most long lived Barn Owl that I have ever found (the oldest being 7 years old). In all the intervening years since 2007 I haven't come across him, despite finding him today only a few miles from his natal site at Lostock Green and his movements in between remain a mystery.

Mixed News

A week of mixed news began on Thursday at Delamere with the discovery of a dead Barn Owl; the wings were the only part of the bird remaining. The rest had most probably been taken by a fox.

However tonight was much more fruitful with the recapture of a fine male bird at Higher Whitley. He had been ringed by me as a chick in 2011 and has only travelled 4 km to set up home.

I also found my first broods of Tawny Owls of the year, including this female with three young chicks. A healthy cache of prey was in the box, including a rat which can just be made out in the background.