Tony's Tyto

It was a cold, still morning with low mist over the Flats and it felt rare, a Woodlark fly-over sort of day. Some Woodpigeon moving through, a few Redwing, a Fieldfare chuckled. A phone call from Jono "Barn Owl towards the SSSI being chased by crows!!" My reply was four letters begining with an f (no, it wasn't fine). Tony had spied it up near Long Wood flying over quite low being chased by crows.

I "calmly" scanned the skies from the southern brooms, no crows. I scanned some more, nothing in the sky but crows in a tree by Centre Road....excited crows in a tree! Obviously worth investigating and as I got quite close out flew THE OWL. Tony and Jono were close behind, but THE OWL had disappeared, apparently just over the road. James appeared but Nick was still at home. No sign of THE OWL though, as we searched the area.

Half-an-hour later Nick had made it onto the patch and was walking up through the brooms when he turned and shouted "Bob"

An absolutely magical few moments, patch birding at its finest, all I had to do was be there and push a button. The first patch Barn Owl for 25 years!

Congratulations to Tony, another great find.