Owls in the Garden

Sometimes you hear a familiar sound and realise that it's been missing for a while. You don't know when it went missing, but it did.  I am guessing it was just as the nights became longer, as the winter started. Then you hear the sound and realise it's back.

 We were off to bed, the window was open and there it was, faint at first but then it was the distinct familiar "twit twoo"  sound of the tawny owl.  We have never seen them and only know they are somewhere in the trees, as they call to each other, usually around the time that we are going to bed or if we return late at night.

We see the barn owls, around the moss hunting at dawn and dusk. Their ghostly appearance, white against the darkening sky, swooping down on their prey, is a familiar sight.  They sometimes even perch on a fence or gate post during daylight. A peculiar but welcome sight.

Not so the elusive tawny. They let us know they are there with their familiar calls but never to be seen.  Camouflaged in the woodland against the tree trunks.  The return of that welcome sound means they have nested in an empty tree bark or a crows nest or maybe in a discarded squirrels lair, in the local woodland. Welcome back Mr and Mrs Owl, perhaps you have returned with your babies. I hope so.