Lewis Raptor and Owl Group

Lewis Raptor and Owl Group A page to cover the work of the group covering the Wylye, Till and Nadder Valleys.

It’s not always good news when we go to do surveys. Popped a far way off our local patch yesterday to return to an estat...
18/06/2026

It’s not always good news when we go to do surveys. Popped a far way off our local patch yesterday to return to an estate with 4 boxes that had small young or eggs last time we visited. Our first call was to an old barn where owls had been seen. Unfortunately it’s next to an equestrian centre where they use rat poison….and this is what we found. Two owls long dead, and two freshly dead. More than likely from eating poisoned rodents. There were two live young in the box….but for how long? I have advised the estate manager of alternatives…hopefully advice will be listened to.

Great to find some little owls today
16/06/2026

Great to find some little owls today

A very busy morning…..with glorious, peachy, spotty females everywhere. The season continues to go well, with 141 barn o...
09/06/2026

A very busy morning…..with glorious, peachy, spotty females everywhere. The season continues to go well, with 141 barn owls ringed so far….bit better than 11 last year!

We ringed 6 young owls at this box over a week ago. They are starting to explore the outside world. It won't be long bef...
05/06/2026

We ringed 6 young owls at this box over a week ago. They are starting to explore the outside world. It won't be long before they fly.....taken at a safe distance with a long lens and heavily cropped...

Yesterday was a day of birds ready to ring. Feels like all the owls and kestrels in our boxes are ready to fledge at onc...
03/06/2026

Yesterday was a day of birds ready to ring. Feels like all the owls and kestrels in our boxes are ready to fledge at once this season….so busy busy! Yesterday we had 21 barn owls and 20 kestrels..plus one little owl chick. Some glorious countryside that we are privileged to have access to, and some great teamwork.

Good numbers of barn owls and kestrels ringed yesterday
03/06/2026

Good numbers of barn owls and kestrels ringed yesterday

This mother little owl only has one eye, but is successfully rearing a baby...
03/06/2026

This mother little owl only has one eye, but is successfully rearing a baby...

Yesterday was a day of boxes….Mark making them and me painting the preservative on. These images also show why our boxes...
28/05/2026

Yesterday was a day of boxes….Mark making them and me painting the preservative on. These images also show why our boxes are better than most ‘off the shelf’ ones. The barn owl box has an internal built in corridor. This makes it harder for jackdaws to take over with their pesky sticks…and the young owls have be be big enough to fly up and negotiate corridor to the door way, minimizing the chances of them falling out when small.

A very busy day, lots of boxes to recheck after finding eggs previously. Kestrel chicks have finally hatched, an amazing...
05/05/2026

A very busy day, lots of boxes to recheck after finding eggs previously. Kestrel chicks have finally hatched, an amazing 9 young barn owls, a couple of 5’s, but sadly, the regular little owl box that had mum and eggs earlier this season had been taken over by flipping bees…no sign of mum. The harsh reality, and as it’s a box and bird I am very fond of, I have to admit I did have a bit of a cry over it….we do get attached to the birds we look after.

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