Awsome Foursome!!

 I was out working in the north east area of Leicestershire today, and whilst in between customer visits I stopped off near to Burrough Hill to check out my site No 95.

I pulled up near the nest tree and peered over the hedgerow, a single Little Owl was located sitting on a broken tree limb that was resting on top of the hedgerow. I was too far away for images so I decided to get a little nearer by making my way along a nearby footpath that worked its way back towards the owl. I got within 25 yards or so and sat down on the grass, luckily the owl hadn't moved although he was getting twitchy by my presence. 

Owl No 1

I sat quiet for around 15 minutes waiting for owl No 1 to do something worth taking a photo of when I spotted a movement in the adjacent tree, a second owl!!!!

Owl No 2 remained partially hidden behind the tree trunk.

Crikey, then from absolutely nowhere a third owl landed on a fence post just to the right of the first owl, which incidentally was still on its hedgerow log!

Owl No 3.

All 3 of them remained still but very alert on their respective perches not taking their piercing eyes off me. It then got bloody ridiculous........a fourth bird showed!!!!!! It appeared just as the 3rd one did, from nowhere! This bird landed low down on a wooden fence in between birds 1 & 3. It was quite a surreal experience sitting there having four pairs of eyes staring at me, it was like a stand off!

Owl No 4.

I weakened and made the first move, I wanted to get nearer to improve on my images. As I did all four birds took flight and disappeared high up in the nest tree,  dam and blast, I'd blew it!!

I sat back down in my slightly nearer position, and waited........

After a while a single owl dropped down from its lofty position and a much improved image was attained. Hopefully the others would follow?

The "drop down" owl, a little closer.

After another 5 minutes of waiting I couldn't stand it any longer, I had to move, it was just too uncomfortable as I can't sit crossed legged like I could when I was a kid! I then tried to shuffled around into a more appropriate position without disturbing the owls..... aaaaarhhhhh, I'd put my hand straight into the middle of a cow pat, a crusty topped one with a slimy stinky centre!! My left hand was covered in SH#T, obviously with all the blaspheming and hand wiping on the grass the owls had long departed, no doubt they were all having a good laugh at my expense........!!

Wind in the Willows

Got my daily owl fix this morning before work had even started, I was making my way cross country (to avoid all the traffic) out towards Rutland. I decided to make a slight detour to hopefully get a glimpse of any resident owls that may be showing at the first little owl site I ever found. Although a little distant for good images a single bird was out on one of its usual perches catching some early morning sun.

Site 1, Carlton Curlieu - Marks Plantation.

On my return journey I decided to catch up with a relatively new site over at Burrough Hill that I located a few weeks ago. Now I wasn't very hopeful of any sightings as this morning’s glorious sunshine had been replace with drizzle and driving winds (and we all now know little owls don't like the wind!). Anyhow, shows how much I know because almost as soon as I had arrived I located a single bird in a willow tree, albeit it was sheltering out of the elements. It then flew over to the nearby ash tree where it settled down tight up against the main trunk  Hang on a minute.............that single bird has company!!! This was only my third visit to this site and already confirmation of a pair.....result!!

Another pair for the records.

Site 95, Borrough Hill - Court Farm

Just as I was about to pull off one of the owls came over for a closer look, a nosey little so and so (must be the hen bird!!!) although it was nearly dark, windy and still raining I was able to managed this image, the best from this site so far. It was a shame but she didn't hang around long though, this was due to the farmer spooking her as he drove by in his tractor, but the good news was I gained permission from him to set up my hide in the field near the potential nest tree so fingers crossed some much better images to come?

Getting Closer......No 95!

New site found today whilst taking a short cut down some country lane at the back end of god knows where? Actually I do know where....now, but at the time I was lost!! I was trying to be clever and thought I knew better than MR Sat Nav, I took the left turn when he said right. Eventually I gave up and decided to pull over to reluctantly consult the map. Whilst trying to fathom out if I was lost on page 16 or 17 I happened to glance up to the ash tree across the road...............OMG LITTLE OWL!!!!  I couldn't believe it, the owl gods are with me again today.  This little owl takes my overall tally to 95 different sites and the initial target of a 100 is now with-in touching distance. Luckily I had my camera on the back seat and before he flew off I managed the image below, shame about the branches in the way....again!!!

Site 95, Burrough Hill - Court Farm