“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” ....Oscar Wilde

Sunday 13 December 2015

The Barn Owl

It's not every day (or night) that you get to see the majestic Barn Owl fly across your path. 
But that's exactly what happened to my son on his way home from work on Thursday evening. 
It must have been quite a sight because he has been talking about it ever since.
I've heard owl calls from our garden, but not been privileged to see one yet.
So now I feel we need to put up an owl box. 
We already have numerous bird boxes positioned around the garden for the smaller visitors, but maybe we need to up our game now that we know a barn owl is close by.
My son obviously didn't manage to get a photo mainly because he was driving at the time, but also it was such a surprise to have the owl fly across his path. 
But I did have this photo below from our visit to Gardening Scotland during the summer, just in case you've never seen a Barn Owl before (I know but just in case)
She was a rescue owl that unfortunately I can't remember her name... but I did manage (with permission) to give her plumage a gentle stroke.
She was magnificent.
If you'd like to know more details about the Barn Owl or to see a video of one in flight then click here

Lots of links this week....
I will be linking up as usual to My Sunday Photo link over at Darren's place.
OneDad3Girls
I'm also linking into image-in-ing if you'd like to see more photographs.
image-in-ing
And Through my lens


Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for popping into my place.
I hope I see you again soon
xoxo

68 comments:

  1. How lovely that your son got to see a barn owl fly across his path. They are such beautiful birds and this is a beautiful photo of one :-)

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    1. Thank you Louise,
      I don't like to think of wild birds being kept in captivity, but when I heard the story about this owls rescue... you can't help but be thankful that there are experts out there who do an amazing job of saving these magnificent birds.
      I hope you have a brilliant week ahead and thanks for visiting my place.

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  2. Something about barn owls seem so magickal... Its the face i think.. it looks almost unreal.. What a wonderful experience for your son. We were driving across country from CA to Arkansas and we had just crossed the AR border when there was a flash of white and brown that crossed right in front of the car... It was a bald eagle zipping in to pick up some road kill... What a sight that was for me. I had NEVER seen a bald eagle in person up close like that! Wow! They ARE HUGE! Hugs! deb

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    1. They are magical aren't they Deb,
      The plumage was incredible up so close and she was quite a character.
      I've also got a photo of an eagle too, but I'm not sure what kind he was. I should have written the blog post straight after visiting the show... whilst it was all fresh in my mind. It's an age thing!
      I think there's nothing better than coming across something like that eagle when you least expect it. Nature makes you gasp sometimes.
      Have a great week

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  3. What a fantastic close-up shot! They are such magnificent and distinctive creatures.

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    1. Hehe... thanks, I was really pleased with the shot.
      I just wish I could have taken a photo of the one in the wild!
      I'll keep hoping and maybe if we get a nest box we might get lucky.

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  4. Replies
    1. Thanks Susan, I was pleased with the result.
      She was stunning!

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  5. Such an amazing creature, shy wise and beautiful.

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    1. I totally agree... she was stunning and so switched on to all that was going on around her. I felt very privileged to see her that close.

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  6. She is absolutely beautiful. What a wonderful photo x

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    1. Thank you Sara,
      She was wonderful so to photograph her was quite easy.

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  7. Barn owls are a favorite of mine. How nice you got to see this owl that was rescued and to give her feathers a gentle touch.

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    1. I felt very privileged to see her so closely and to touch her. It was a magical time. She looked so intelligent too.
      I had to make sure that she saw my hand gently approach her from the front, before I moved to stroke her chest.

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  8. Wow, what an amazing thing for your son to see. And what a beautiful photo!

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    1. I know Sarah, I was so pleased that he was so thrilled.
      It shows he has an appreciation of nature and wildlife.

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  9. It's he absolutely beautiful #MySundayPhoto

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    1. She was so beautiful Mary, and quite a character too.

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  10. Wow the detail is incredible, so beautiful

    Thank you for linking up

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    1. I was really pleased that her plumage showed up so well because she was stunning.
      Thanks for hosting... it's always fun to take part in the linky.
      Have a great week

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  11. What a truly beautiful bird - you got him in so much detail. Great capture. #mysundayphoto

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    1. Thanks Victoria,
      I was really pleased with the outcome of the photo.

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  12. she looks so pretty and magnificent.. i want to stroke her too. :>

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    1. I felt very privileged to be able to stoke her, but I was also aware that I'd rather see her flying free.

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  13. breath taking,,,

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    1. I thought of you like this when I posted the photo Laurie,
      I still have your painting on my wall in my art studio.

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  14. A most beautiful bird - it doesn't even look real. By all means, I would put up some owl boxes to give them a good safe home. I watched the video. Their feathers are not waterproof! It does not seem like they would like Scotland at all - how much snow do you get. If they cannot hunt in the rain, they cannot hunt in the snow!
    Thanks Denise!!
    Sandy xx

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    1. It wasn't until she moved her head to look around that I believed she was real. The plumage is incredible Sandy.
      I'm so happy to hear that you watched the video... we don't actually have as much snow as you might imagine and it's much drier on the East Coast of Scotland than on the West.
      I think they do hunt in the snow because I've seen footage.
      Have a wonderful week... enjoy!

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  15. Barn owls are magnificent birds. Lucky you to get to see one up close.

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    1. I know Nan... I was so lucky that day because we saw lots of birds of prey. They had all been rescued for one reason or another.

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  16. Wow good job he was not on his bike, that could be real scary! Although they are the gentle giants and I do love to hear an owl, I can feel a new house purchase is on the cards, I think you might need a penthouse for a barn owl!
    Have a great Sunday, we're snuggled up with the Sunday Times, that's a treat!
    Wren x

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    1. Well yes indeed Wren, he'd probably have ended up in the ditch if he'd been cycling.
      I think a penthouse is the least we can do for such a majestic bird.
      I certainly wouldn't fit in any of the boxes that we already have. I think the folly might be the perfect location too. A definite des-res!
      I forgot that you were over here at the moment. Well we are -1 at the moment, so you'd better stay cozy.
      We had the Sunday Times too although I didn't even get to open it.
      Thankfully someone else did!

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  17. Wow she is absolutely stunning, such gorgeous creatures. My brother used to have an Owl it was stunning x

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    1. Isn't she just Sarah,
      I was completely smitten seeing her.

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  18. Fantastic photo! Such a beautiful creature x

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    1. She was beautiful Kim, and so interested in all of her surroundings.
      It was a very special moment to be so close to her.

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  19. I would be thrilled! One rarely sees owls of any kind. Even their flight is silent. I can see why he is still talking about it. :)

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    1. I watched a documentary recently which showed just how silent the owls flight is Rita,
      No wonder the mice etc don't stand a chance... they just don't hear them coming. A beautiful slow motion video of the flight was fascinating.
      Have a great week

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  20. Oh what a treat, to see one so close up and to have one perching nearby too!
    You took a fabulous photo Denise :D xox

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    1. Thanks Mo... it was a great opportunity to take a close up photo that I just couldn't resist. As to seeing one fly over the lane as I drove home... well I just wasn't that lucky.
      My son was thrilled to see it and earlier in the week he'd helped a sheep right herself (she had managed to roll onto her back in the night and couldn't get back on to her feet) which can be a tricky maneuver. So he's really been in the David Attenborough mode!
      I hope you have a great week ahead.

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  21. Replies
    1. She was indeed Christine, her plumage was fantastic and she had quite a character.

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  22. A beautiful owl! Lucky you! My moment (with the owl still has to come:):) Have a happy week!

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    1. You're in for a treat when it happens Jeannette,
      I do hope it's soon ;D

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  23. What a beautiful bird.
    This past year my husband and I became obsessed with watching various birds in online nest cams. I loved the owls and hawks the most.
    Thanks for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2015/12/beautiful-saint-maarten.html

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    1. My sister has a nest camera which is fantastic and fascinating, but I've yet to set one up. Maybe this coming spring would be a good idea.
      Thanks for visiting our nest!

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  24. A beautiful creature!
    http://travelingbugwiththreeboys-kelleyn.blogspot.com/2015/12/tomato-tart-recipe-for-all-occasions.html

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    1. She was indeed... I felt very privileged to be able to get so close to her.
      Have a great week!

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  25. Our owls look completely different so it was lovely to see your barn owls.

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    1. I adore the native wild birds of the UK Purfylle and missed them when we lived abroad but it's so interesting to meet new ones from another country.

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  26. She's so beautiful! Lovely shot!
    According to Wikipedia, the barn owl is the most widely distributed species of owl... but we don't have them here in Finland.
    Owls are really beautiful and fascinating birds, and one of my happy memories is when I managed to "rescue" a malnourished and weak Ural owl (Strix uralensis). :D I didn't actually do anything, I just showed to the ornithologists of the Department of Biology where the bird was and after a month of being cared by experts (s)he was released back to nature. ♥

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    1. My son told me the same fact Sara,
      I loved hearing about your owl rescue especially with the happy ending!

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  27. How exciting! I would be absolutely thrilled to see one! You have to get Wesley the Owl!! Amazing book about a barn owl raised by a scientist because it had an injured wing.

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    1. I immediately looked up Wesley Marie... and who knows he might appear in someone's Christmas stocking. Thanks :D

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  28. Goodness, she almost doesn't look real. What a beautiful capture, Nessie! They are so majestic and wise ;) Thank you for sharing!

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    1. It was my pleasure to share June.
      I agree they don't look real... and the plumage is incredible.

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  29. I love owls! These one is amazing.

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    1. I felt very privileged to be able to see it up so close and especially to gently touch her. The lady who was looking after her was very knowledgeable and protective.

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  30. We have barn owls here in France and I hear them most nights ... and am lucky to see them maybe once a month. Beautiful birds. DOn't forget you can always add him to #AnimalTales

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    1. I think it's an amazing sound to hear and see the owls. I haven't visited #AnimalTales but will do. Thanks for the invite :D

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  31. I have never seen one in the wild. So magical. Happy Holidays to you!

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    1. I've seen very few but they certainly make an impression when you see one Sharon.
      Happy New Year to you too ;D

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  32. Hey Neesie, just watching the news and how bad some of the storms are there, how are you doing? Hopefully NOT underwater. Did you have a Merry Christmas?? Hope to hear of your and Muffy's safety. (but I know you're at your sisters so whenever!) Hugs.

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    1. Hi Jenn,
      Yep we're dry here thankfully. We were down in Cheshire for Christmas but traveled back up to Aberdeenshire the day before storm Frank arrived. Hubby restocked our supplies and we have a full wood store so we're okay. It was a good idea to purchase our house up on a hill but I never expected to see the River Dee flood so badly. Some of the news footage from here in Scotland but also further down south is incredible. The good to come out of it is that people are pulling together and there's some very kind generous people out there. It's always heart-warming.
      Christmas was flat out but brilliant. How did you get on?
      Hugs to you and your Mum... Muffy's been exploring in the woods this morning, so after her bath and Aga toasting, she's snuggled in her bed next to the fire. It's a hard life!
      Have a brilliant night and we wish you all a wonderful, healthy, happy 2016. xoxo

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