Barn Owl bonanza

[Flywaver]

Whilst out cycling in the Fens near Ely yesterday afternoon.
I had 5 sightings of Barn Owls although i believe i only saw 4 as one definitely repeated itself. The others were further along.
Really didn't realise how common they are? Cycling by didn't seem to disturb them. Now if i was in the car with camera. A different story i bet...

[Deb London]

They must be locally common as we never see them here. Lovely birds aren't they.

Of course you would never see them with your camera. Sod wrote a whole new set of laws for when it comes to birdwatching.

[JeffH]

Yes, I'm pleased to say they're doing quite well in the Fens

Returning from a recent trip to Welney WWT reserve I saw no less than 4 Barn Owls (and a Short-eared Owl) in a distance of less than a mile.

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers, Barn Owls and Avocets)

[bell]

Unhappily i picked up 2 dead on the A1 today, cant bear to leave them !

[Stephen de Vere]

The Fens generally have always been a good place for barn owls mainly due to the presence of miles of drainage ditches. The banks of the ditches are great habitat for field voles, their main prey, because not grazed or mowed or ploughed or allowed to revert to scrub etc.

Obviously the owls need breeding sites too but once you provide plenty of not too spread out vole habitat then you'll almost certainly get good barn owl population too (harsh winters and other factors aside).

Male owls are also showing off their hunting prowess to their partners just now.