Endon Barn Owl

Watched the Endon Barn Owl this morning at about 7am as it quartered the rough grasslands adjacent to the Caldon Canal between Endon and Stockton Brook. This winter must have been very hard for Barn Owls that depend, mainly, on small mammal prey. I have only seen one bird at a time, though postings on the Staffordshire Birds blog suggests there may be two. If there are and if they are a pair the will probably have started a nest by now. Given the length and harshness of this winter it seems unlikely that barn Owl pairs will raise many young this year.

I took these pictures this morning. Notice the Magpie in the bottom one. This Magpie and other corvids were mobbing the owl for a while.