Set in the farmlands on the outskirts of the village on a beautiful clear and warm summers evening while the sun kisses the rolling small hills over the farm. I've finished work for the day and I'm out with my camera in search for some Barn Owls, It really is the best time of year. The long summer evenings offer up a lot of opportunities to get some great shots of our mostly nocturnal feathered friends. I had been watching the Barn Owls in the area for a few weeks to this point while they had been working tirelessly to feed their young owlets and tonight just felt like it was going to be a special night for them.
I had spotted the mother Barn Owl in the next field across from me, She had shown herself to me by swooping her way into view over the low tree line. She had woken up for the night and she and her Owlets were hungry. She was gracefully fluttering her way over this one field in search for some Voles, occasionally dive bombing herself to the ground to get the catch. I was making my way over to her to try get a closer and better view. She didn't seem annoyed by my presence as I kept approaching. I got to within 25 meters of her while she is perched up in a tree, occasionally locking eyes with me while scanning the area. I had set myself down in the long grass waiting for her next move,
I waited for a few minutes waiting for her to make the move, My camera poised and ready to get some close up shots of her that to this point had eluded me. Annoyingly she wasn't in great view in the tree thanks to some well placed branches. She took off, I bring the view finder of the camera to my eye and try to gain focus on her, I was trying to remain calm with the camera. I couldn't believe the shots that I was getting, in pure amazement as she glides no more than 8 meters or so away from me all the while she was scanning the ground for prey.
She stopped mid air just behind me and started to hovering with her wings, she had spotted something in the grass. I took as many pictures as I could as she continued to hover. She dives to the ground and catches the unsuspecting field mouse or something similar and returns the catch back to Owlets back in the nest box who would be eagerly awaiting her return.
It was such a special encounter, felt like it was a show dedicated to my eyes only. I was so over the moon with the images I captured, this was my first proper opportunity of getting decent images of a Barn Owl.
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