The elusive wren building a nest

Caught this little chap frantically redecorating a hole in a tree with lichen and moss, ready for a new family later this spring.

Wren's we have found are difficult difficult lemon difficult to photograph as they flit so quickly and unexpectedly around the leaf litter and twigs.

The barn owl flying off its perch

Barn Owls again

In a rush to get some fresh air this evening before the dark and promised rain arrived. Not really expecting to see a barn owl when of course.. we saw a beautiful bird hunting in the orchard area on the old familiar spot of "Barn Owl Hill"

It landed on a post and quietly posed for us as we peered over the wall. So heart soaring again this evening. Can assure you a barn owl a day keeps the blues away!

Tree Creeper and Hares

After a hellish week in bed with flu followed by a mad rush to get some work done before going to Brussels for a course it was great to get a gorgeous sunny day at Leighton Moss yesterday. All eerily quiet in that strange way before the full on energy of spring. We did see a bittern though and a stoat and lots of hares on the way there.
Probably best shots were of the smaller birds in woody area near Lilians. Tree creepers living up to their names everywhere.

Barn Owl Hill expands

So it is a year since we named a local spot Barn Owl Hill. Since then we have watched as two barns held nursing adults with young and then they fledged and now we wonder just how many are in the area.

How large an area will a single barn owl hunt? We've seen quite a few since January, 1st. Today we had to abandon the car because of snow and hike up B.O. hill then later, on our way back from Inn at Whitewell, we spied a beautiful Barn Owl hunting and slammed into a snowy bank.

Watched her/him hunt for a long while and as light failed managed to get a few shots off.

Pants shoots a hare whilst I shoot Pants!!

What a fab day. Worried a bit about taking Sunday off in lieu of Monday (have to work Monday this week) Sunday is full of other people (mine and Jean-Paul Sartre's hell!!)
Fortunately, lots of snow yesterday and fog this morning meant it was quiet and impassable over barn owl hill. We skidded the car into a snowy bank and set off on foot. It looked awesome up there (we could still see the fog in valleys though) Stopped again nearer to Whitewell and Pants went up above the lime kiln whilst I photographed his figure disappearing and then reemerging. As he cam into sight a hare sprang up in front of him and I got funny pics of him gearing up to snap the hare...
Gorgeous day.