We’ve been away, we’ve been to Rutland Water for a couple of nights in the campervan. we had a lovely time, I hired an electric bike, such fun! I went wheeeeeee!
I’ve not ridden a bike for many many moons.
After that we went on to the nature reserve, and watched nature in all its Spring busyness.
From a hide we watched the osprey, they were a little too far way for my camera, but we were much closer to them than we had been before, in addition there was a large TV screen showing live footage taken by cameras looking directly into the nest.
Now that sound like an excellent day, doesn’t it? We settled down for the evening, with a glass of wine and some tasty Long Clawson stilton cheese.
And then the magic arrived
A barn owl flew in across the meadow, next to the camping field, quartering, searching for prey, it swooped past us time after time
It’s the first time I’ve seen a barn owl in the wild, I’ve had other owl encounters.
It went on and on, taking prey off to its nest
and returning, to our delight.
The next morning, Mr Uphilldowndale went out on his bike at about 7:15 am, for a proper bike ride, one with pace and miles and without me going wheeeeeee all the time.
After he had gone I contemplated making a second cup of tea, I sat up in bed and peeped around the curtain and there it was again.
Right in my face, this time carrying its breakfast. I’m such a lucky girl. 
All the photos were taken through the tinted privacy glass of the van, the last image with added condensation…
Uphilldowndale 
Lovely post and pictures. Lucky you seeing a barn owl like that, it’s been years since I last saw an owl in the wild. xx
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Oh, don’t I envy you. I’ve yet to see an owl of any sort in the wild. I suppose part of it’s the kind of territory I hang out in, and part of it’s that I just haven’t developed my ability to see them where they are. On the other hand — it wouldn’t have taken much skill even for me to see this one. Lovely photos of a wonderful experience.
Thank you, I’ve seen little owls in the daylight before and I can reliably see tawny owls at dawn each morning (or at least their silhouette) they seem to be creatures of habit, showing up at the same tree at the same time each day.
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