Bad light stopped play...

                                                   until the owls came out...

Well, not just bad light. My trip to Wales to see all sorts of quality birds dissolved in constant mist and rain. Of the twelve ticks for my year list, only the 8 ravens clonking in the mist as they danced and cavorted in the fog remain truly memorable. Once back in England things improved a little but still the camera remained firmly ensconced in its carrying bag. A trip to Blacktoft on January 7th eventually produced two grey male hen harriers but it was too dark.

I managed a wigeon just to keep my hand in.

Wigeon Things really got better on the 8th when I went to Far Ings for a smew [which I couldn't find] but I came across some waxwings in an ash tree.

Waxwing Waxwing A kestrel came really close as it checked out the hawthorn hedges near the car park.

Kestrel Kestrel I went on to Alkborough Flats LWT for the long-billed dowitcher [which I couldn't find either!] but I saw ruff and lots of spotted redshanks. This curlew flew over as I walked back to the old car park.

Curlew

Wonderful Worlaby

To round the day off I went to Worlaby in hope of a short-eared owl. That was accomplished within two minutes of arriving. Few birders were around. I'm sure that helps.

Short-eared Owl And then there are those things you dream may happen one day and which invariably take you by surprise and are completely unplanned. I've been to Blacktoft a dozen times in the last twelve months hoping for close-ups of their owls. But to no avail. That day at Worlaby I shall remember for a good while. It's a sort of portfolio of this stunning bird...

...that I spotted in the darkening sky as it emerged from the trees down towards Worlaby village.

Barn Owl I got back into Tiggy and with the camera in my lap I drove slowly back down the road. All the pictures were taken from the car.

Barn Owl Barn Owl Barn Owl Suddenly he would spin and dive into the long grass...

Barn Owl Barn Owl Barn Owl Barn Owl Barn Owl Barn Owl All pictures are taken in the poor light at 1/320th of a second. Sometimes a little blur is quite effective as often the owl's head is moving much more slowly than his other bits!!

Barn Owl Barn Owl Barn Owl UK 103; Yorkshire 17