Garden Tawny Owls.
For the first time since 2019 a pair of Tawny Owls have bred in the garden, think this is mainly due to the fact that I replaced the damaged roof on the box last summer when a pair were using the box, but didn't attempt to breed.
Link to video : (https://x.com/DonSton37420445/status/1665071287360733184?t=kDIbSUAoh6J_TilqYymA4Q&s=03)
14th May : First view of an Owlet.
15th May : Adult sits a few metres from the nest, keeping watch during the day.
Owlet at about midday.
A sure sign there are Owls in the vicinity.
16th May : First sight of two Owlets in the gloom.
17th May : The twins again; Twit & Twoo.
18th May : Only one Owlet on view this evening.
19th May : No sign of any Owlets at the box entrance this evening.... the reason soon became clear, as I found this one had 'Branched' & was busy clambering about high up in an adjoining Oak about 10 metres from the box, looking very confident as it was hopping & diving among the branches.
22nd May : Following heavy rain & winds overnight, I was wondering how the Twins were faring, along with not having seen them since the 19th, but I needn't have worried as they were both cuddled up together sheltering under a branch at mid-afternoon, with the rain still falling, backed up by a gusty wind, they managed to cling on, remaining in position for a couple of hours 'til the rain stopped.
By the evening they had separated, with an adult sat 3 metres from them keeping a watchful eye on proceedings.
23rd May : Both have re-located to the other side of the tree this afternoon & are cuddled up again, still in same position in evening.
24th May : No sign during day, just managed a rear view of this one performing wing exercises in the evening.
25th May : Adult roosting in the afternoon sun.
26th May : The Twins roosting mid-afternoon a few metres apart.
The top Owlet in the above photo does a bit of serious wing flapping, it won't be long now 'til it attempts it's first flight.
27th May : I watched as an adult called from within the Oak, the Twins immediately respond with constant begging calls, as the adult left the calls slowly faded.
29th May : Both cuddled up together this morning. They could both be heard calling at 9pm this evening, as I walked round to locate them I accidently disturbed the adult from it's perch about 3 metres from the ground.
30th May : I could hear an Owlet's hissing call coming from a totally different direction at 9pm, it took me a while to locate it, there it was peering down at me from high up in Oak about 40 metres from yesterday's position, I'm thinking this Owlet is now able to fly, if only for short distances, as I don't think it would have climbed all that way through the branches.
31st May : Had an amazing 10 minutes with the Owls at 9-30pm as an adult flew from the Oak to a tree about 12 metres away, encouraging the Twins to venture from the safety of the Oak, calling as she flew to & fro with the Twins following. Now they can fly there'll be no stopping them........ It's been a privilege to be able to watch them for these last three weeks.
Don.
Images : Copyright © Don Stone.
