The site opened and i went to do my normal check of the Hide after winter, but i did visit early Jan/Feb before the site opened. There was a very welcoming site as i came down the track through the woods, silently hunting was the amazing Barn Owl. I was so excited after so long on the site to see this wonderful Owl. I looked inside the Deer Hide and found 10 to 20 Fresh Owl Pellets, yes it was using the Hide to roost.
We arrived on site and i had to get down to see if my Owl was still in the area and to find out if it was using any of the boxes i had put up. It came out of the hide window as i walked towards it. The next day i went o start work on the hide when i noticed something white fluttering about on the outside of the hide lookout. The Barn Owl had got caught up in the Camouflage net. I had to help it so i got hold of it and tried to clear it form the cam net. I never thought of myself just helping the Owl and didn’t know how sharp the Talons were. It sunk its Talons into the palm of both hands so it was going to very hard to free it. The pain was unbearable but after 10 mins i had to come up with another plan. I left it and went to my hide and got one of my Wood carving knifes and a Bag. I placed the Owl in the bag and went and sat down in my bird hide and cut away the string that had bound its way all around the owl’s body.
Finally after 40 mins, hands cut to buts it was free and it flew into a tree close by and say there and had a good preen. I never bothered to try and get a photograph as i was more happy that it was saved from certain death. I went back to my static van and my wife cleaned my wounds. Next day i had to set my Pop up hide up and try and get my first image of the year for the Sites Wildlife Blog. At 1400 hrs i set up and got ready, but was i didn’t expect was within 20 mins it sat 20 feet away and looked straight at my Camera Lens. It was as if was saying thanks for rescuing me yesterday get your image.