Memorable Moments 5.
29th October 2024
Nearer home this time.
It was February 2016 during a horrible prolonged wet spell of weather where the fields around Llangors Lake in the Brecon Beacons had been turned into a veritable quagmire. During that winter there was a Barn Owl trying to survive by hunting these fields. Life was obviously really tough for this bird, and of course for Barn Owls in general that winter. Their feathers are not waterproof and if they get wet they can’t fly and therefore lose their ability to hunt and subsequently starve to death.
I had been watching this bird getting soaked regularly in the afternoons, sometimes it was just perched out on a branch looking bedraggled and I really feared for its life. In addition to this I saw it being attacked by a Common Buzzard - it was living on the edge!
However, these birds are made of stern stuff and it appeared to be surviving everything that nature was throwing at it. I eventually saw it catch a couple of voles - finally getting something to eat. After it was out flying on a regular basis and obviously getting stronger and the weather had improved marginally I decided to set up a portable hide near to where I had seen it perching – these birds are creatures of habit.
I waited for three hours, freezing in the hide, it’s cold when you can’t move! Finally in the late afternoon with light fast fading it perched on a nearby branch and then turned around to look over its shoulder straight in my direction – perfect!
Another memorable moment which I’m sure won’t happen again for me at that location.
What a bird!
It was February 2016 during a horrible prolonged wet spell of weather where the fields around Llangors Lake in the Brecon Beacons had been turned into a veritable quagmire. During that winter there was a Barn Owl trying to survive by hunting these fields. Life was obviously really tough for this bird, and of course for Barn Owls in general that winter. Their feathers are not waterproof and if they get wet they can’t fly and therefore lose their ability to hunt and subsequently starve to death.
I had been watching this bird getting soaked regularly in the afternoons, sometimes it was just perched out on a branch looking bedraggled and I really feared for its life. In addition to this I saw it being attacked by a Common Buzzard - it was living on the edge!
However, these birds are made of stern stuff and it appeared to be surviving everything that nature was throwing at it. I eventually saw it catch a couple of voles - finally getting something to eat. After it was out flying on a regular basis and obviously getting stronger and the weather had improved marginally I decided to set up a portable hide near to where I had seen it perching – these birds are creatures of habit.
I waited for three hours, freezing in the hide, it’s cold when you can’t move! Finally in the late afternoon with light fast fading it perched on a nearby branch and then turned around to look over its shoulder straight in my direction – perfect!
Another memorable moment which I’m sure won’t happen again for me at that location.
What a bird!