Barn Owl

I had the incredible fortune of driving through the picturesque Yorkshire Dales just last week when something truly enchanting unfolded before my eyes. In the soft afternoon light, there it was – a magnificent barn owl, gracefully perched on a stone wall. It was a moment I'll cherish, for I had never before crossed paths with a wild barn owl, though their haunting calls had often graced my ears.

But what made this encounter even more spellbinding was the fact that it was broad daylight – a departure from their usual nighttime hunting routine. Typically, barn owls partake in nightly feasts, consuming approximately 3 to 4 small prey items each night. When we extend this over the course of a year (365 days), it amounts to a remarkable range of between 1,095 and 1,460 items devoured annually, a testament to the captivating and intricate lives these majestic creatures lead.