My OperaEvicted?
Friday, March 9, 2012 12:14:21 AM
Not me, I hasten to add, but I have a suspicion that the beautiful barn owl I featured a week ago may have finally been evicted by the resident jackdaws.
They were already making their presence felt last Monday, and today I spotted more of their activity. When I investigated they were busy going in and out of the stone hole. What was particularly interesting (and raises questions in my mind as to whether the owl is still there, but tolerating them) is that the jackdaws were taking material out of the hole, rather than taking nest material into it. This first shot isn't great, but it's just clear enough to show that the jackdaw has grabbed an owl pellet and is flying away with it. The pellet is the undigested remains of prey, regurgitated by the owl.
One other photo from today. A trio of ducks flying over the pond.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
They were already making their presence felt last Monday, and today I spotted more of their activity. When I investigated they were busy going in and out of the stone hole. What was particularly interesting (and raises questions in my mind as to whether the owl is still there, but tolerating them) is that the jackdaws were taking material out of the hole, rather than taking nest material into it. This first shot isn't great, but it's just clear enough to show that the jackdaw has grabbed an owl pellet and is flying away with it. The pellet is the undigested remains of prey, regurgitated by the owl.
One other photo from today. A trio of ducks flying over the pond.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
der WandersmannderWandersmann # Friday, March 9, 2012 2:24:56 AM
I do hope they haven't driven the owl away; he was so beautiful, but I rather suspect they have ... I should think that they would realise that the owl might begin to look upon them as potential food, too.
That "arrangement" of ducks makes me think of the hammered metal (usually copper) ducks that one finds on some living-room walls here in the States ... the rough taste equivalent of those porcelain figures found on the mantelpieces of English families of a certain class.
Sami Serolaserola # Friday, March 9, 2012 7:52:52 AM
Nice pictures of Jackdaws and good documentation
Adele BrandSittingFox # Friday, March 9, 2012 9:13:54 AM
Loiscakkleberrylane # Friday, March 9, 2012 3:20:43 PM
Darkogdare # Friday, March 9, 2012 5:54:06 PM
Words # Friday, March 9, 2012 11:08:51 PM
I think the owl has departed, but there are local reports that they (there are two apparently) are in some local woods. As for the 'flying ducks', yes that is roughly the classic formation for wall decoration!
Words # Friday, March 9, 2012 11:09:06 PM
Words # Friday, March 9, 2012 11:10:24 PM
Words # Friday, March 9, 2012 11:11:08 PM
Words # Friday, March 9, 2012 11:12:09 PM
Loiscakkleberrylane # Saturday, March 10, 2012 3:19:40 AM