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| Close encounter with a Barn Owl. http://www.lbcarchive.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=17502 |
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| Author: | Andy Sims [ Fri Sep 07, 2012 2:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Close encounter with a Barn Owl. |
This morning I was carrying out a survey which started at 05:30. I was sat quietly in a chair by the side of my car which was on the bank top of a large drain, overlooking an area of open farmland. At 05:54 a Barn Owl appeared, hunting along the drain and flying towards me. As it got near to me I saw it look across at me and fly towards me. I looked up, expecting it to fly over me but it stopped and hovered about 2 feet above my head for about 20 seconds. It then flew to a post on the bank, about 10 yards away, and sat there for about 2 minutes looking intently at me, as I was at it. It again flew towards me and repeated the performance, hovering just over my head before flying back to the drain and carrying on hunting. When it was hovering over me I could feel the downdraught from its wings but could hear no sound at all. About 20 minutes later it flew back and again landed on the post looking at me before carrying on hunting. In the course of 35 minutes I saw it hunting 7 times along the drain. An absolutely incredible experience which I feel very privileged to have experienced. |
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| Author: | Freddy Johnson [ Fri Sep 07, 2012 3:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Close encounter with a Barn Owl. |
Andy, That must be a positively unique and almost surreal experience and one that could well unnerve a non-birder. It certainly sounds as if it turned a routine survey into an unforgettable one. Regards, Freddy PS. The Swanpool Cowfields have remained 'quiet' this week with few migrants recorded. |
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