{"id":5103,"date":"2018-02-11T22:03:33","date_gmt":"2018-02-11T22:03:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/naturalbornblogger.co.uk\/?p=5103"},"modified":"2018-02-12T15:11:16","modified_gmt":"2018-02-12T15:11:16","slug":"a-chance-encounter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturalbornblogger.co.uk\/?p=5103","title":{"rendered":"A Chance Encounter"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Barn

Barn Owl, quartering the moss close to Pilling, Lancs.<\/p><\/div>\n

A few photo’s from a chance encounter with a Barn Owl whilst driving over the marshes and mossland close to Pilling.<\/p>\n

Five minutes earlier a huge flock of thousands of Starlings had suddenly taken to the air right in front of me. Suspecting a Peregrine or Merlin had just shot through I parked up and watched the Starlings hoping for a return. However, after 5 minutes still no sign of any raptors. Turning around the unmistakable, ghostly silhouette of a Barn Owl drifted into view. For once, obscured by the roadside hedges I hadn’t been spotted and the Barn Owl continued to drift ever closer silently quartering the moss.<\/p>\n

\"Barn

Back and forth, looking and listening – a silent assassin.<\/p><\/div>\n

Suddenly the Barn Owl turned its head and plunged talons first into the vegetation behind the hedge.<\/p>\n

Strike one – the Barn Owl drops to the ground and grasps a vole in its deathly grip.<\/p><\/div>\n

Squeezing the life out of its unfortunate victim the Barn Owl proceeded to pick it up and gulp the vole down head first.<\/p>\n\n\t\t