On our last full day in Northumberland, the weather forecasters promised strong winds and rain later in the day, and we weren't sure where to go or what to do. Nothing new of note had been reported so we decided that while the sun was shining and the wind was just a moderate breeze that we'd leave the cottage early and head back and see if we could see the Barn Owl that we'd found a few days ago.
There was no sign of the Owl as we drove into the farm track and we wondered if we'd been too late in getting out again. Not that it mattered because we'd had such brilliant views of it the first time around. We drove back towards the road thinking we'd go and get some breakfast somewhere. Mrs Caley suddenly shouted, 'Stop!' and 'Back, there by the side of the road'. I reversed a short way and there to the right of us was the Barn Owl perched up in one of the trees. It was the male bird again, and was obviously using the vantage point to study the long grassy verge that lined the road. Or it could have been interested in the antics of a Hare that was legging it up the road towards us which didn't turn and scarper into the adjacent field until it had almost reached the car.
The Barn Owl had left its perch in the tree and was flying towards us so I hopped it out of the car and stood ready and primed to fire off more shots with my camera. Another few hundred more images of such a fabulous bird wouldn't hurt would it? The Owl knew we there of course, but didn't seem to care and just flew past, performing one mid-air stop as it did so when it looked straight down the barrel of my lens.
For the next hour and half we watched the Barn Owl much as we had a few days before. The Owl was very prolific in catching voles, we saw it snare at least eight, all carried back to the nest in a dead tree as before. I took lots of photos and present just a few here. This Barn Owl wasn't at all bothered by our presence at at times would stand on fence posts just twenty metres away.
It was the flight shots that occupied me for way over an hour again, with the Barn Owl treating us to such close flypasts it was impossible to resist taking more photos.
On this occasion the Owl tended to hunt in a field that was further away, particularly so when it had been successful in catching a rodent. From there it would fly back to its nest at greater distance from us than when it had been flying up and down the roadside earlier. It's flight path also took it on a route that was against the light (not that I ever use that as an excuse to mask my poor photography skills). I wanted to catch a few images of it carrying its prey so positioned myself nearer the nest tree, still a hundred metres or so away, but stayed in my car so as not to disturb the bird at all. The delivery of food to the hungry chicks is vital and far more important than my photos.
We had a chat with the local farmer who understandably was interested in what we were doing. He told us how he was really keen to promote wildlife on his farm and how he enjoyed seeing the Owls himself as he went about his work. As we were talking I could hear a Yellowhammer singing away close by but couldn't locate it. After the farmer had left us, the Yammer was still audible and I was surprised to see it singing its plaintive song whilst stood on the ground, usually they sit high in a bush to sing.
Our last afternoon was marred by the strengthening wind which meant that most birds were hunkered down tight. We had a quick walk out onto the northern sands of Holy Island, where we'd enjoyed fine views of wading birds a few years ago but today apart from a few Oystercatchers there was nothing. There wasn't any reeling Grasshopper Warblers in the dunes either, though that was hardly surprising in the near gale force winds and we'd have been hard pressed to hear them anyway even if they had been present.
With torrential rain forecast we headed back to the cottage early and prepared for our journey northwards the next day, stopping only at Monk's House Pool near Seahouses where we saw another nice Little Gull feeding over a sheltered part of the pool.
Onwards to Scotland and the place we love the most!
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