That will be why my cat has run in the house and hid then

[Gbyte666]

My cat came running in the house today and hid. I went outside to see what had scared her and nearly fell over when I saw this looking down on me from my roof.

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/1893/img7524.jpg (http://img202.imageshack.us/i/img7524.jpg/)

Its an Eagle Owl and this picture dose not do justice to its size its huge, turns out where we were afraid they might build houses in a field next to me there will now be 30 wooden bird of prey huts and the field used to train them. Great stuff, I should get some great action shots.

Craig

[Ghost]

Kin hell Craig, stunning picture.

But get up there and clean those roof tiles. :D

[Tonio600]

what a beautiful animal, great shot Craig!

[ChrisBushell]

I guess the cat showed a lot of sense in hiding! Do you know if these are indigenous to the UK or perhaps they are being re-introduced?

[singletrack]

I guess the cat showed a lot of sense in hiding! Do you know if these are indigenous to the UK or perhaps they are being re-introduced?

They have been extinct in Britain since the 18th Century - it looks like this one is a visitor from Craig's new neighbours.

...............................turns out where we were afraid they might build houses in a field next to me there will now be 30 wooden bird of prey huts and the field used to train them. Great stuff, I should get some great action shots.

Craig

[Chris Wood]

That'll keep the mice at bay then!!

Lovely burd!

[Monty]

They have been extinct in Britain since the 18th Century - it looks like this one is a visitor from Craig's new neighbours.

Not strictly true-they are breeding in an abandoned quarry in North Yorkshire somewhere. They are very common over in Holland apparently where they live again in old quarry workings-it's not a very long flight for an owl.
I saw a program about this a year ago when it was being discussed that hunt's were using them to kill foxes-which is not illegal..........
So you can chase the fox with dogs-but once it is knackered you send a bloody great owl in to finish it off-Craigs cat was showing massive good sense.

We have a different problem around here as there have been several sightings recently around the Grafham area of a large cat-labrador sized-with very long tail and rounded ears-suspicion is that it is a lynx-there have also been sightings of young versions so could be they are breeding. There is loads of food and cover around here so it is perfectly possible-I live in hope.

John

[bradders]

not sure the cat will share your enthusiasm

[Gbyte666]

They are going to do a release to the wild program here ( like I hav'nt got enough owls hooting and sreaching all night long around here already ) but I'm not sure if they will be letting that Big Boy out. It was out again today sitting on my wheele bin screaming at the postie when he tried to put post into my box. Bet he shat himself when he got out the car.

Craig

[singletrack]

Not strictly true-they are breeding in an abandoned quarry in North Yorkshire somewhere. They are very common over in Holland apparently where they live again in old quarry workings-it's not a very long flight for an owl.
John

Apologies - I understood there were a few vagrant Eagle Owls over here, but none breeding. I stand corrected. :p

[Guido]

What I think's happened here Craig is all the little tweetie birds have called in their big brother to fend off the cat that been preying on them for years..........:)

Not something you see on your roof every day.