Wednesday 14 January 2015

Barn Owl at Baston Fen


One of two birds that have been seen hunting over the small nature reserve just outside the village of Baston in south Lincolnshire. This site is pretty reliable for views of this iconic species, although numbers can vary.

Historically, the Barn Owl was probably the most common owl in Britain, but numbers have fallen from the middle of the 19th century to perhaps 12,000 pairs in the 1930's. Further declines have followed, linked with organochlorine pesticides to less than 5,000 pairs in the 1980's and to approximately 4,000 pairs in the 1990's. A recovery in numbers has occurred in some regions that can be correlated with the provision of nest boxes, suggesting that part of the decline was due to the loss of nesting sites. Weather can also play a factor with breeding success and inclement weather in the past has indeed led to the suspension of breeding, perhaps due to the poor condition of the adult birds.

21 comments:

  1. Magnificent capture,great to see.
    John.

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  2. Absolutely fantastic picture! You must be thrilled. I would be soooo chuffed if I'd taken that. Beautiful, beautiful bird, Well done!

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words! I got lucky ;)
      J

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  3. Lovely flight shot John, especially with the head turned towards the camera.

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    1. Thanks John!
      I think it was wondering what I was doing!
      J

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  4. Thanks for the information. Great flight capture.

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  5. Isn't there something haunting about the look of an owl's face? This photo manages to be creepy and beautiful at the same time!
    CLICK HERE for Bazza’s fabulous Blog ‘To Discover Ice’

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    1. Thanks Bazza, I think!
      I don't think that I would find it beautiful if I was a vole or a mouse!
      J

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  6. I PERFECT shot of the barn owl. Just beautiful!

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  7. oh, how beautiful.... so graceful and such a lovely face ...looking right at you.......

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    1. Thanks Bumblevee! Looking right at me and wondering what I am doing!
      J

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  8. Wow, awesome capture of the Barn Owl in flight!

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