The Magpie's Hoard

Urban Barn Owl

One of my former students recently told me that he had seen a barn owl hunting over a piece of derelict land in Sheffield.

Late this afternoon I visited the site and was treated to some excellent views of the hunting owl against a backdrop of factories and warehouses.

I'm afraid these pictures are pretty poor - my camera has developed a fault in its focussing sytem.

Trust

Image © Roger Butterfield, 2009. All rights reserved.

This wild robin is incredibly trusting. He seems quite content to pose for photographs, singing away to himself on a fence post - provided I serve up a mealworm every few minutes.

If only all birds were so cooperative!

Birdsong

At this time of year, I find myself looking for any small sign that winter is loosening its grip - the slightest hint that spring is on its way.

As darkness fell around 5 o'clock this afternoon, a blackbird was singing hesitantly from the birch tree in our back garden. I paused to listen and also picked up the distant sound of a song thrush in full flow.

It won't be long now...