The Lincolnshire Bird Club

A very confiding Barn Owl on a hedge adjacent to Tesco's, Linwood Road, Market Rasen and hunting over nearby fields. I do not hold a lot of hope for its' survival.

Unfortunately, I've just found out about the first casualty. A ringed this years' bird found dead in an emaciated condition in Stainton-le-Vale, close to where it was ringed. I got another call to say that a Barn Owl ringed as a breeding male in 2004 has also been found dead in a similar condition. I fear it won't be the last.

I had a phone call that a third ringed Barn Owl was found dead at Swallow on 10/12. GC57923 is not one of the Mid-Lincs RG rings numbers so the bird may have travelled some distance. In addition, the BTO Blog revealed that a further 31 dead ringed Barn Owls had been found in the UK in this cold spell - not good news.

I was alerted to a dead Barn owl at it's roost in Baumber on saturday 11th. which had probably died on friday. We still have snowcover after more than 2 weeks but today crops and vegetation are starting to reappear so allowing owls some respite for improved hunting conditions, but for how long?

On a more cheerful note a live owl was seen sitting on a hedgerow beside the highstreet in Baumber last night on my way home from the pub!

Mike

I see the beer at the Coach and Horse is still helping with your nocturnal bird watching! On a serious note, that's good news - let's hope the forcasted freeze is not too severe in this part of the world.