Years ago late at night I saw and heard a bird flying around about 3am on several occasions. I had seen an owl land on some nearby rooftops but i thought that the bird i saw iin the air was something else, it just seemed too ungainly to be an owl, but some research including writing to a Portuguese bird society along with further observation revealed that it was indeed an owl - no doubt the same one i had seen land. I guess that previously in the UK I had seen barn owls with their ghostly silent flight and this was another type, I never identified which.
Anyway, I guess we saw it five or six times.... and then it vanished, never to be seen again. Until now. The other day Donna heard a weird cry late and from the balcony we saw what had to be naking it, I guess it's basically a hunting cry that freezes the blood of any animal that is its potential prey, to be honest it's creepy enough to send a shiver down the spine of a full grown man when he's alone in a dark house ar 4am.
Yesterday, as is not uncommon, I found myself unable to sleep so I decided on late night wander, meandering along the streets I realised that I had been heating the screeching sound on the edge of my hearing for a while, I focused in on it and after a few secs saw the base heading for some waste ground where finally he disappeared from view. Probably bad news for a vole or a mouse or something I guess.
Anyway, my question is really, is this the same fella from before who has returned after adventures elsewhere, or is it perhaps the offspring now reached hunting age? Guess I'll never know owl, but I'm always pleased and excited eceert time I see or hear it.
Also not long ago on a moonlit night we saw an otter swimming in the riverwgich I found really exciting, not sure I've ever seen one in UK but this we watched for ages, swim by the side, get in, get out, it was fucking ace, guess that doesn't belong in this thread but we saw it while taking out the binoculars to look for birds and I want to tell you about it so did.