Round Two of Foxglove Owl Boxes

It has been a very warm day on the Reserve today, the Blackthorn blossom near to the Vole Ponds has been particularly dazzling when the sun has been shining, giving off the impression of being in an extremely prickly cloud.

But enough about weather and blossom and onto the main event of the day, checking the Owl boxes at Foxglove Covert.

We returned to a nest box which was last surveyed on the 27th April by Stacey, Jenny and Rachel. After Mother Owl departed Stacey quickly fetched three of the four chicks to ring (the fourth still being too small).

This little chap seemed well content dozing in the sunshine…

We then headed over to a nest box on the moor, where we were unsuccessful in ringing a Barn Owl last time. Lo and behold we found a new visitor to the reserve. This female Barn Owl has now been ringed and was not alone in her box, being joined by three eggs (fingers crossed!).

Next we headed back to a box where we recorded a female Tawny Owl on the 27th April and noted her three chicks that were too small to be ringed at that time. This time however the two remaining chicks were large enough and have now also been ringed.