““Owl” said Rabbit shortly, “you and I have brains. The others have fluff. If there is any thinking to be done in this Forest…you and I must do it”
A.A. Milne
I’ve always loved owls, but it wasn’t until late 2020 that I actually started to spend time photographing them. Since then I have spent many, many hours with them, with many very early starts!
Whilst I enjoy all five owl species we get here in the UK, the agility of the short eared owl, the presence of the long eared, the inquisitive nature of the little owl and the secrecy of the tawny, it is the barn owl that is my favourite.
I love how the light gets captured in their pale wings, how they can silently pass you without warning, how they stop and hover and then fearlessly plunge to the ground in search of food. There is also a fragility about them, especially as they struggle in wet and windy conditions in a country that is often wet and windy!
A Winter's Tale. It was a cold start to the day, with the ground covered in frost and a layer of mist lingering in the air. As the sun rose a flash of white appeared in the mist and a barn owl was out hunting.
The Tree Has Eyes. One of three little owl owlets whose home was a tree stump close to a country lane. It's incredible how well they can blend in.
Success. A short eared owl successfully hunts in the fields alongside Bempton Cliffs. There were regular clashes with the resident kestrels, unhappy about the winter visitors coming to share their spoils, and this owl made a dash to an area of bush to try and evade them.
Fields Of Gold. This long eared owl was out hunting in the early evening to find food for its nearby young. It was beautiful to watch it skim over the top of the buttercups.
Night Owl. A female tawny owl watching over her nearby young.
Sleeping On The Job. Taken in North Yorkshire, UK.
Making Contact. A short eared owl makes eye contact whilst hunting one winter's afternoon. Taken in East Yorkshire, UK.
My Home. A barn owl hunting in the fields alongside Bempton Cliffs, East Yorkshire, with the North Sea behind.
His Throne. A regal looking long eared owl takes a break from hunting for his nearby young. Taken in West Yorkshire, UK.
Age Of Innocence. I arrived just before sunrise and as the light picked up a barn owl owlet came out to greet the day.
Dusk. Short eared owls are diurnal hunters and hence can often be seen hunting at dawn and dusk. This owl was hunting over wetlands in the last of the golden light of the day. Taken in East Yorkshire, UK.
Early Bird. One of two barn owls hunting at dawn, at Bempton Cliffs, UK.
Posing. Most times I have come across adult little owls, it's a brief sighting before they fly away. In this case this owl was happy for me to take photos from the car, then leave the car and sit on the opposite bank. A few minutes I let it be and it watched me as I drove away.
Shake It Off. A barn owl having a head shake mid flight. Taken in North Yorkshire, UK.
Slowing It Down. As the light started to fail, I lowered the shutter speed to 1/50th, creating the blur on the wings of a passing short eared owl. Taken in East Yorkshire, UK.
Dedication. This barn owl was reliably hunting during the start and end of each day in late Spring 2022. They try to avoid flying in the rain as their feathers aren't waterproof, but he quickly got wet on this morning, due to the dew in the long grass he was hunting in. A few months later we spotted three owlets sat in the tree he and his partner were nesting in, so his endeavours were worth it. Taken in North Yorkshire, UK.
Balance Board.
Focused. A backlit short eared owl hunting. Taken in East Yorkshire, UK.
The Watchman. After watching a pair of barn owls hunt early one evening, it all went quiet so I headed to the car to leave. As I drove down the lane, one of the owls was perched on a sign, checking that I was leaving! Taken at Bempton Cliffs, UK.
Ball Of Fluff. We were walking past a small patch of woodland one morning and could hear screeching. Sat high in the trees was a little ball of fluff, a tawny owl owlet, calling for food. Taken in North Yorkshire, UK.
Precision. A barn owl coming into land. He had been hunting that morning and the dew in the long grass had wet his feathers. The additional weight meant he kept having to post to rest and conserve energy. Taken in North Yorkshire, UK.
Perched. A short eared owl rests on a branch brought into the wetlands by a recent tide. Taken in East Yorkshire, UK.
Hovercraft. A barn owl stops and hovers, listening out for the sound of movement in the tall grass. Taken in North Yorkshire, UK.
The Gang of Four. It was wonderful to see these owlets line up, after a great job by mum and dad, before they left the nest a few days later.
Tap Dance. A short eared owl landing on a post late one evening. Taken in North Yorkshire, UK.
In The Mist. A barn owl hunting at first light on a frosty morning. This remains one of my favourite wildlife moments. Taken in North Yorkshire, UK.
Golden Hour. A short eared owl posts in the last golden rays of the day. Taken in East Yorkshire, UK.
Baby Face. Tawny owl owlets leave the nest and branch from an early age, but are dependent on their parents for up to another three months. This one was making it clear that he was hungry! Taken in North Yorkshire, UK.
Tootsies. Weirdly I have a thing about birds' feet..... This owl was hunting at sunrise for his nearby young. I'm particularly fond of the bokeh, the light through the wings and those backlit feet! Taken in North Yorkshire, UK.
Dinner Time. A barn owl owlet calling for food. This was taken from a safe, long distance, in North Yorkshire, UK.
Agility. Short eared owls are probably the most impressive fliers of the five owl species we get in the UK. Their agility is incredible to watch and sometimes makes it challenging to photograph! Taken in East Yorkshire, UK.
My New Home. Kestrels had been using a nesting box and the juveniles had just started to leave the nest. As I approached the tree I noticed a different face looking down to me, a barn owl owlet which had recently left its nearby nest.
Double Trouble.
The Secret Garden. A barn owl resting at the edge of woodland. I like how the surrounding plants make the bird look small. Taken in North Yorkshire, UK.
Focus. A short eared owl hunting typically close to the ground whilst I'm lying on the floor! Taken at Bempton Cliffs, UK.
Night Owl. A barn owl hunting at dusk. Taken in North Yorkshire, UK.
Take Away. A successful barn owl takes its prey back to its nearby young. Taken in North Yorkshire, UK.
Siblings. Two of three little owl owlets waiting impatiently for their parents to bring breakfast. Taken in North Yorkshire, UK.
Pretty In Pink. Sometimes being short has its advantages. This barn owl posted early one morning, but instead of showing the wire fence, it looks like it's hovering over the bed of grass and heather.
Three Of A Kind. Three of four barn owl owlets pose for the camera!
Flexibility. A short eared owl showing off how flexible he is whilst flying! Taken in East Yorkshire, UK.
What Did The Barn Owl Say To The Curlew??? Taken in North Yorkshire, UK.
A Heavy Load. This adult little owl brought dinner to two enthusiastic owlets holed up in the knot of an ash tree. The vole shows how small these owls are compared to the likes of a barn owl.
The Detectorist. A barn owl changes his flight path after hearing potential prey. Taken in North Yorkshire, UK.
Gold and Black. A barn owl owlet watches as the sun sets. Taken in North Yorkshire, UK.
Pure Gold. Last October we were lucky enough to come across a large number of short eared owls in one small area, which had migrated from their breeding grounds in Scandinavia and Russia. This was taken on what is likely to be one of its first few days in the UK after its long journey. For a short while the skies were full of owls in the late evenings before some of them began to disperse elsewhere along the coast. Taken in East Yorkshire, UK.
And Stretch. A barn owl owlet stretching its wing. It had just started hopping around the tree but would soon be tentatively flying from its nest tree to another tree where it could get peace from its siblings. Taken in North Yorkshire, UK.
Spirit In the Sky. A barn owl back lit by the late evening sun, flying alongside a shaded woodland. Taken in North Yorkshire, UK.
Goldeneye. A little owl owlet peering out from the shade of a tree. It's amazing how they can blend in! Taken in North Yorkshire, UK.
Early Riser. We headed out to Bempton Cliffs at the end of winter, hoping to see short eared owls at sunrise. Instead we had to "make do" with a pair of barn owls out hunting, who had returned to the area in order to nest.
By The Seaside. A short eared owl hunting on the east coast of England. They are winter visitors, predominantly heading over from Scandinavia for the warmer climate. It's still not clear to me why you'd chose to spend winter on our coastline!
The Ghost. This barn owl is a particularly pale bird, and had spent the past few months providing a constant conveyor belt of voles for his four young to feed on. Taken in North Yorkshire, UK
Flappy Bird. Long eared owls are known for their secretive nature and for being nocturnal. This bird was active at dusk and dawn through a period of the summer when it had dependent young and the days are long. Taken in West Yorkshire, UK.
Spiritualised. A barn owl hunting, with his wings lit up by the sun behind. They are definitely one of the best birds to photograph back lit. Taken in North Yorkshire, UK.
Childhood Home. A barn owl owlet wondering where dinner is.
A Hard Day's Night. A female tawny owl rests, with her young nearby. Her feathers are wet from the rain through the night. Taken in North Yorkshire, UK.
Peek A Boo! Whereas adult little owls can be a bit skittish, these youngsters were very inquisitive, sometimes coming out of the hole to see you as you drove by! Taken in North Yorkshire, UK.
Tree Hugger. A barn owl in one of his favourite viewing points. Taken in North Yorkshire, UK.
Golden Eye. One of the two owlets waiting impatiently for dinner.
On The Veranda.
Angel Of The North. A backlit barn owl hunting in the late evening light at Bempton Cliffs, East Yorkshire.