Re-kindling friendships

We drove slightly further South, to a beautiful property which borders the Dairy we had previously visited and met up with Mr H and 2 friends of his who had been photographing the owls here for several years.

The majority of the property is re-wilded with grassland, hedges, ditches, ponds and a multitude of owl and kestrel nest boxes.

The first butterfly we saw was a marbled white and around us were yaffling green woodpeckers, a timid roe deer peeped out from the grass, a kestrel flitted around the meadow and a tawny owl surprised us by flying up from one of the ditches.

In other parts of the property are hand built barns and all of the nest boxes are had crafted by Mr H.  

Behind the farmhouse are fruit cages brimming with berries, green houses packed with tomatoes, cucumbers and a vegetable patch of true beauty.

Up in a tree covered in ivy high above a deep ditch is a barn owl box, Mr H had seen 2 young owls branching out amongst the ivy.

I clambered up grateful of branches and ivy to cling onto at the top as I reached into the darkness of the box. Two owls successfully in their bags I reached a little further to check the corners of the box and felt another warm feathery chick hiding.

The youngsters were ringed, weighed and measured and swifly returned to their lofty box to settle back down and wait for their parents to bring in some voles or mice.

On our way out Mr H came over with a bucket of goodies from the garden and we promised to return next year.