27th: Just on the off chance I decided late morning to do some local birding as I hadn’t been out for a couple of days … Lucky I did !!! And it is always nice to stick local.. for me anyway … the chances are you might find birds that are your own discoveries .. rather than twitching someone else’s birds …. but that’s another talking point for a rainy day.Anyways, it was a nice drive round a favourite spot of mine … Low Marishes just off the A169 … Pickering to Malton Road. It was nice to add some birds to the year list in the form of Redwing, Yellowhammer and Common Gull. At the time there were lots of flooded fields and there are certain spots you can stop and scan across the fields. At one particular stop near to the Yedingham junction I was having a scan across the fields for any signs of ducks, geese or swans. There were some very noisy Pinkfeet, but then I caught a movement in the corner of my eye and a beautiful Barn Owl was quartering the field on the opposite side of the road where the Geese were .. they paid no notice as the Barn Owl passed . Suddenly the owl changed direction and flew across to my side of the road and started to fly up towards me in lee of a high hedge. I gently peeped round the hedge … it was hovering …but no luck.. it was coming closer .. I got the camera ready I could clearly see the owl moving up closer leaned forward again … and fired….I don’t know who was more surprised me or the owl…. what a gorgeous bird!! The owl then flew up the road and disappeared … minutes later it was back, flying directly towards me … with the light bringing out some lovely detail as the owl passed … What an afternoon!!And what a privilege to photograph such a cracking bird!!
