Over the last couple of sessions around the Braydon Forest there has been a lot of Tawny Owl activity. Recently I bought a new net, with heavier duty thread and larger holes, for waders and owls so I decided to give it a go. It was the first net I erected at 6:00, I switched on a lure at 6:15 and immediately got answering calls and owls flying around my head, which was a great experience in itself. By 6:30 it had a Tawny Owl sitting in it. Although I have ringed one previously, and processed another 2 retraps, this is the first I have caught in my own nets and very exciting for me. It was an adult female and possibly the most docile bird I have ever handled.
The list for the day was as follows, new (retrap): Tawny Owl 1; Treecreeper 1; Blue Tit 6(2); Great Tit 7(4); Coal Tit 1; Long-tailed Tit 4; Wren 5(1); Robin 1; Blackbird 2; Chiffchaff 3; Goldcrest 6. Totals 37 new, 7 retraps. The Chiffchaffs are seemingly the last hangers on of the summer migrants. ST