A Tawny Owl in the Wood, & Bird Poop on My Head

Today was going very nicely - gardening jobs are getting crossed off the list and everywhere is looking much tidier.

George was fitting shelving into the shed when he heard a Tawny Owl and he very kindly abandoned his tools to come and tell me about it.

The wood was silent by the time I arrived, but I walked in as far as the owl box and stood contemplating it, wondering whether there was an owl inside it. Something made me look up and there in the tree, about twenty feet off the ground was a huge pair of eyes...they belonged to a Tawny Owl and she/he was calmly looking back at me.

Tawny Owl, image by rspb.org.uk

Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me. We must have looked at each other for a full minute, before she unhurriedly flew off. I wonder whether this could be one of the pair who raised the young owlets in our box a couple of years ago ... or, perhaps it is one of the young owls, checking on the old family home.

The white 'V' at the top, middle of the photo

is where the Tawny Owl was perched!

Of course I keep finding myself wandering into the wood to check the trees for owls - we heard her call a short time ago. Fingers crossed, I shall see her again before too long. Probably when I am least expecting it.

I took Toby and the two cats for an evening stroll around the wood. I didn't expect to see the owl, especially as the cats were being energetic and running up and down trees, showing off to each other - but I did keep scanning the tree tops, just in case.

Suddenly, there was a plop on my head as a splat of bird poop landed on target and splattered down my blouse. Remarkably, in all the time we have owned this place, and during the many thousands of walks I have taken around the wood, this has never happened before.

I stood there in disbelief... and then I started laughing.