They have specifically managed the land as a habitat for Barn Owls. The meadows have bean encouraged to provide the correct habitat for the owls. They are not mown for hay and they even have mammal nest boxes to encourage voles to breed to provide for the needs of the owls.  In the barn there are breeding Barn Owls with 3 owlets at present. In another box atop an old oak tree, kestrels have bred this year. Woodpeckers, Green and Greater Spotted breed as well as Nuthatch, Tits and all the usual woodland and garden birds. There is a pond full of Dragonflies and Damsels. A wooded area is home to Butterflies including Silver Washed fritillary, Small Copper and Green Hairstreak. Have you got the picture?  I forgot the Deer ,Fox and I presume Badger.

These words cant possibly do justice to the potential and actuality of the place, it is simply tremendous and wonderful. Alive with all manner of insects and wild flowers of all sorts.

The Barn Owls are about to fledge and apparently almost fully grown and ready to fly. Being mindful of the law about taking photographs at the nest without a Schedule 1 licence, I waited in a field nearby in the hope that they would emerge to hunt whilst still light. Sadly, for me they didn’t last night. It was really frustrating because after dark you could hear, very loudly the calls of 2 youngsters, obviously well out of the boxes, hissing for food as their parents were away and hunting the meadows. I was hoping to catch a glimpse of at least one owl in the car headlights as I made my way up the track but unfortunately, that didn’t happen either.  But I will be back, and back so watch this space for photographs. The lady of the house showed me some of her pictures of this years adults and birds from last, pictures of hunting birds and pictures of posing birds, pictures of flying birds…… well the list went on. They were as disappointed as me that I didn’t get a show last night. I am going to post some of her pictures here for you to see, it will be the first time I have included other people pictures on my blog but because they are so exceptional, I must share them with you.

I have spent a pleasant 20 minutes earlier trying to get some shots of a really confident Wood Pigeon that has decided that I am no threat at all. I can get to within 2 feet of him/her and she will resume feeding. I practised taking flight shots which is incredibly difficult when you are very close. I managed one that was almost in flight and almost in focus! Another, not cropped,  of the head, yes I was that close.