Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
Species
Barn Owl (Tyto alba). Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on April 1st 2018.
Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on April 1st 2018.
(1/1000th sec at f11. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)

Description

L: 33 - 39 cm; WS: 80 - 95 cm

A medium-sized owl, with long wings and legs. It has a characteristic heart-shaped face. It generally has buff/brown upperparts, and white underparts.

The Barn Owl is widely distributed in Europe and the British Isles.

It breeds in farmland with scattered copses, gardens, rarely in villages close to fields.

Barn Owls often hunt at dusk, or even during the day if they have young to feed.

It has green status on the UK list, but only about 4000 pairs breed here.

Sightings

19-Jun-2023 : Aston, Oxon (1)
03-Jun-2023 : Aston, Oxon (1)
18-May-2023 : Aston, Oxon (1)
17-Mar-2023 : Aston, Oxon (1)

20-Oct-2022 : Aston, Oxon (h)
18-Oct-2022 : Otmoor, Oxon (2)
02-Jun-2022 : Aston, Oxon (1)
20-May-2022 : Aston, Oxon (1)
15-May-2022 : Aston, Oxon (1)
01-May-2022 : Aston, Oxon (1)

27-Feb-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
17-Feb-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
08-Feb-2020 : Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk (1)
19-Jan-2020 : Bury Down, Berks (1)

28-Jan-2019 : Bury Down, Berks (1)

05-Apr-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
01-Apr-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
21-Mar-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
22-Feb-2018 : Bury Down, Berks (1)
28-Jan-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)

17-Jun-2017 : Standlake Common, Oxon (1)
22-Jan-2017 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)

06-May-2016 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
07-Feb-2016 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)

01-Nov-2015 : Baulking, Oxon (1)
09-May-2015 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
05-Apr-2015 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)

11-Feb-2014 : Stratfield Brake, Oxon (1)

06-May-2013 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
31-Mar-2013 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
26-Jan-2013 : Cholsey Marsh, Oxon (1)

23-Sep-2006 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)

28-Mar-2005 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon