I’d been living in the village about 15 years before I discovered that, near my house, there lived a barn owl.

It had probably been using the perfect hole in a huge ash tree for many years but we only have definite sighting records going back to 2017, since when it has been seen every year. I say ‘it’, but I mean ‘they’ as only last year I was lucky to see two youngsters side by side on a branch stretching their wings and getting used to the great outdoors, so there is clearly a resident couple.

I used to think that it was only possible to see owls if you denied yourself a nights sleep, but owls are often visible during the day. If the weather has been windy or wet overnight they are prevented from hunting and they emerge when conditions improve. I’ve been lucky to see owls at all times of day.

This isn’t the only barn owl in Addingham: over the past 6 years there have been recorded sightings in 5 different locations. It’s name suggests that it has always had a close association with man and traditionally been seen as a friend to farmers for it’s prowess at clearing rodents who would otherwise feed on cereal stores. They were once the most numerous owl in Britain until the twentieth century when the familiar problems of chemicals and ‘tidying up’ forced a dramatic decline.

It is possible to investigate the owls diet very easily by taking apart a pellet...they are neat birds and the very first time I spotted ‘our’ owl at it’s front door it was regurgitating a neat package of bones wrapped in fur. By soaking the pellet in water and using tweezers it is fascinating to see how many voles and mice were eaten the night before.

The white face, creamy brown colouring and silent flight quartering the fields make it a unmistakable and beautiful sight.

Little owl have also been spotted and almost every night we hear the tawny owl’s soft hooting call behind our house. They like to perch on a telegraph post and don’t seem to mind me shining a torch at them for a better look but the box we built for them has, so far, only been used by squirrels and jackdaw!

Add to all the other birds the chance of spotting an owl on your walk and don’t forget your camera! www.wharfedale-nats.org.uk