The story of owls, my inspiration.

I have decided to tell you about my story of owls, learning to share.

The inspiration for my new work in progress. Straight from my heart.

When I moved into our new home in November 2023. It was shrouded in loss.

The loss of my father in law who's home we have made our own. And the loss of my mum only a month before we moved. While going through the motions and emotions of such a huge loss. Putting one foot in front of another again.

I started to explore our local surroundings in the eden valley. Often catching fleeting glimpses of a beautiful barn owl. Often passing over our garden.

Her silence and beauty uplifted my sad soul.

Over the coming months we seemed to get in sync with one and other. Watching her gracefully glide across the open and untamed fields, hunting.

In the hush of the countryside, while the last of the sun painted the sky in hues of pink and purple.

As the seasons changed. Two barn owls started hunting together. Possibly a mate?

Then as warmth of mid summer arrived the hissing of young owlets could be heard from an owl box in an old crumbling barn in the field.

My excitement grew, as did our meetings. Most nights I got to peacefully enjoy the beautiful female barn owl I had by then named 'solice'.

Just me and her. Often flying right past me looking deep into my eyes. Little did she know, her simple need for survival and hunting brought be healing.

Just myself, the barn owl and the nature that surrounded us.

Until it wasn't!!

The little patch of land, where I took time out each evening to watch the owls. Had the addition of two bird feeders and tent/hide.

It was hard to know if anyone was in there hiding. This made me feel sad and un easy. The space I had taken for granted. Of which is not my own. I reasoned with my feelings. This was understandably a place to now be shared.

One night as I stood in awe, with a camera in my hands. Watching the owl glide straight towards me.

The excitement of been able to share the same space with such a beautiful creature.

A voice shouted 'Hello' stood there where the two men whom had made a 'hide' in the waste bit of land. Donning the biggest lenses I ever did see. Feeling rather inferior with a camera round my neck and lack of experience. We introduced ourselves.

I was there, as been close to nature was starting to heal my pain.

They however, were then there for sometimes 8 hours a day and then most evenings.

I tried to find a new space to watch and catch glimpses of the barn owl 'solace' and her now mate.

But we often trod the same paths.

So peeping out my window, I would set out only if there were no sign of cars, to be alone. A space to be shared.

Over the winter we lost one barn owl, found lifeless at the bottom of a tree. As if it couldn't go on anymore. Perished.

Later 3 barn owls appeared, regularly hunting together. That was a sight to behold.

Fast forward to just last month (August). While all the bracken and Himalayan grew high. And the twitchers appeared less and less.

The sound of very slight hissing came from the barn again. With the screeching calls in the air on a warm evening.

This hissing got louder and louder. So I decided to set a wildlife camera up at a distance outside the barn.

The two little owlets were about the fledge. Looking almost like adults. But still been dependent on the parents.

That day we had to say goodbye to our beautiful little house cat Diego. Sadness consumed us once again. And still does. We miss his love so much.

With a broken heart I went to remove the camera. But something told me to leave in another night. So it stayed for one more night.

And wow! Im pleased I Did. (Thank you Diego).

That night the little fledging owlet. Stomped up and down that oak beam. With her raspy calls for food. His parents never far away, calling back and forth. Bringing her snack after snack! Did I capture her first short flight?

A speeded up version of the nights events.

A couple of days later I received a knock at the door. From the bird watchers down the field!

Asking if i had seen the owls. As they hadn't been able to spot them. Then showing me a video of myself, picked up on there wildlife camera. The conversation then changed to how there wildlife camera had been damaged and gone missing. But they had picked me up looking at the camera. Of which I did, noting it had moved and not to obstruct there view.

Other comments were made. Feeling like I was been accused of disturbing these beautiful creatures. Which would be the last thing i would want to do.

Needless to say I have visited this area less of late.

But look who landed in our garden this week on a rainy night. To pluck the worms from our short grass... Not a barn owl. But one of the tawny owls that we hear but never see on an evening.

Tawny Owl picked up on the garden wildlife Camera