It was the first Agricultural Show of the season yesterday. A great day out for the farming community, and for all the rest of us, who can admire cattle, calves, sheep, horses, shire horses, donkeys all being judged on who knows what esoteric criteria. Tractors, machinery, country crafts and produce … and in among all that, a Birds of Prey display. I picked some owls to showcase for you today, particularly this Northern Pygmy Owl. He’s barely the size of a blackbird.

The Indian Skops Owl is hardly any bigger:

But the other three are much the size you might expect, being pretty much Barn Owl size:



I’ll probably bring you all the fun of the Agricultural Fair another week. As crops are gathered in, and young animals grow less dependent on their mothers, the season starts in earnest.
Love those dark wide eyes of the Indian Skops Owl!
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All owls seem eminently attractive, don’t they?
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Excellent portraits of such a fascinating bird.
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Owls are fascinating somehow, aren’t they?
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Indeed.
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If only we humans had the capability to move our heads and necks as owls do!
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I know. I got a sore neck attempting to imitate them.
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These pictures remind me of a weekend away some years ago when we spent much of the first evening looking across at three owlets in a tree who seemed as transfixed by us as we were by them.
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How marvellous! What a treat.
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Great images, Margaret! The eyes are well focused.
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Lucky shots. Jut my bargain-basement phone!
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Beautiful to look at, but the barn owl not so tuneful in the middle of the night.
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I really don’t mind. I find it quite a comforting noise.
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What is it about owls that makes them so attractive? Large eyes?
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I think it must be. They are appealing, aren’t they?
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I also like hearing them at night, but haven’t heard any here, but then the nearest woodland is about a mile away downhill.
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Margaret, I hope you had fun. Your owl portraits are terrific 😀
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We had fun – and thank you!
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Wonderful detail on those owls. Lovely choice to share. Thanks.
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They’re completely disarming, aren’ t they?
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Certainly are! So glad you are able to the ‘agricultural shows’ that’s what we called them in Rhodesia.
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Oh he is a magnificent little creature!
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I loved attending agricultural events and meeting up with all the people involved within the farming community, Margaret. I especially enjoyed meeting the young people who were just starting out their “farming journey” through 4-H clubs. Your photos always tell a story that entices me to envision myself standing by your side.
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On this occasion, I didn’t get to talk to any farmers, but it’s good when there is a chance to talk.
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Tractors and owls…..whatever could be better 🙂
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I should have thought, and invited you over for the day 😉
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Oh well, there’s always the next one 🙂
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They look quite surprised to be caught on camera. Shouldn’t they be asleep in the daytime? I probably look like that before my first cup of coffee.
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Probably, but I do see owls round here by day too. Yup, the pre-coffee look, definitely!
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🤭💟
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So so cute. I have seen the barred owl and the great horned owls while hiking, so pretty and impressive.
Robert E. Fuller, from England, helps them grow on his property, and paints them as well. He has many live cams and videos on his Instagram account, I love watching them. Barn owls, kestrels, and others: https://www.instagram.com/robertefuller/
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Oh, thanks for that! I shall go and have a browse.
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Ooh fun, I love owls! I think the Indian Skops Owl looks especially engaging. Were you allowed to pet or handle any of them?
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I think that might have been a possibility later. But they were just finishing setting up, and probably needed some ‘down time’ for the birds.
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I’m always amazed how small their bodies actually are underneath all those feathers!
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Quite! Nowt there.
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Interesting. I think of the Indian Scops as normal owl size, and the barn owl as a giant
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It’s interesting, what people in different parts of the world see as Normal. Yes, owls are Big Birds here, but Normal too!
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Owls are fascinating. Looks as though you enjoyed the fair. Miss going to those, maybe I can coax my wife to visit a county fair this fall!
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Go for it! You’ll enjoy it. She’ll have fun. No loosers here!
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I am not sure, I’ve ever seen an owl in real life. Really enjoyed your pictures – the tawny owl is gorgeous!
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He is. But I like them all. We occasionally see barn owls fling by day and at dusk round here.
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