“I have a clumsy flying owl in the paddock …”

FIRST BROOD OF 2024 !

A landowner near Chichester, West Sussex gave me a call and asked if I could check his owl box as he thought he’d seen a young barn owl flying around the paddock.

I agreed to go but wondered if he was mistaken as it seemed a little early in the season.

The ladder was set and the box is a tricky on as it has no inspection hatch and you have to reach through the front of the box and over a baffle. I put my phone inside took a photograph and realised there was more than one owl!

A wonderful clutch of 5 were hiding in the front section of the box- two owls had been out of the box exploring in the wet grass (they had clean feet).

The clutch was comprised of 3 females (spotty chest/flanks and tan necklace) and 2 males (white chested no spots).

All were ringed and leasured and put back in their nesting box much to the delight of the landowner and his grand-daughter.

I look forward to visiting again next year and hope he has installed a side viewing hatch.