18/02/2025 Bury, Greater Manchester

Barn Owl: Perhaps the most familiar British owl, the barn owl will often hunt during the daytime and can be seen ‘quartering’ low over fields and grasslands looking for its next small mammal meal. And although I have seen dozens of barn owl, I've never had the opportunity to photograph them.

So who best to team up with then Martin Loftus, the owl whisperer of Bury. We headed out on Sunday afternoon and staked out an area in Bury where we waited patiently in the cold. 

Barn owls are found in relatively open landscapes, often on lowland farmland across Britain where their main prey species thrive. 

They are not a woodland or urban species although, perhaps more than other owl species, they are comfortable living in relatively close proximity to humans and are commonly found using barns or deserted buildings for roosting and nesting

These owls prefer open rough grassland where their prey of small mammals can be found in high densities, predominantly voles, mice, and shrews. They may also hunt along field margins, the edge of woodlands, watercourses or even roads, and any other grassy areas

Martin and I waited around an hour and a half before we spotted an owl hunting in the fields close by. Eventually it was joined by a second bird and they both flew closer and closer - too close at times!

Really enjoyed this session, not only getting some stonking views of barn owl, but also spending the afternoon with Martin.

03/02/2021 Local Site, Wigan

Barn Owl: With the longer evenings and recent good weather I've been spending more time out at dusk on a few of the local sites close to home, hoping to count a few of the local barn owls. 

It's always a special day when you have an encounter with a barn owl, they are magnificent birds. This individual was not shy and quartered right past me on two occasions before gliding off over the rough grassland. 

As a schedule 1 breeding bird I'm always conscious  about posting precise locations of barn owl in the breeding season, so forgive me for being vague in the title description. 

 

02/01/2021 Astley Moss

Barn Owl: Happy New Year everyone. 

I'm  often surprised by how many people view my umble birding blog, its something I really enjoy doing so thanks for checking it out. 

With Christmas and New Years over with all the fizz drunk and mince pies eaten I was keen to get out of the house and out birding. Staying local I visited Astley Moss NR.  

The nature reserve stunning with its shimmering blanket of white ice and snow covering the fields, haedrows and mosses. As soon as I stepped out of the car I noticed a barn owl hunting in the adjacent field. 

The bird must be struggling to find enough food, probably hindered by the ice and snow as it was out hunting in the late morning.  

As temperatures start to drop in winter, small mammals become less active which means a lot less food is available for barn owls and they need to work extra hard to find it. 

The bird flew between the fields and paddocks across both sides of Rindle Road before disappearing out of view.

 

10/01/2017 Lightsaw Flash, Wiagn

Barn Owl: During a windy winter walk with Dawn down to Lightshaw Falsh, we were treated to some stunning views of Barn Owl.

I have seen Barn Owl several times in this area, often perched upon the posts near Warrington Road A573 near the Dover Lock pub at night, but always speeding past in my car, so never able to get a prolonged clear views.

One of the best sights that Britain has to offer, forget the Shard, the Forth Bridge or York Minster watching a hunting Bran Owl quarting over the British countryside is just brillinat!

The goahslty figures soon disapred out of view.

27/05/2012 Martin Mere WWT

Barn Owl: A cracking sunny day at a Martin Mere where I was treated to some stunning views of a Barn Owl.









This guy was spotted along the Reed Bed walk, firstly when I sneezed and it felw out of a bush then over towards the Harrier Hide. I was gutted, a rookie mistake, and then it flew over a hedge and on to a fence post where I managed to creep up on it and get a few cloers shots.





Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat and Reed Warbler also in good numbers along the Reed Bed walk, Temminck's Stint and Green Sandpipers on the reserve also reports of Common Tern over Ron Brker Hide, although I did not see.