I saw a sign up for a raptors show when I was on my way to visit a relative. Of course I had to stop. The program was more than halfway through, but I was able to take these photos the short time I was there. It was in the basement of a building so the light situation was not good.

I love barred owls. I have followed a family in the wild for three years. I always say the mother owl found me. She flew right over my shoulder one day when I was walking. I returned to that area every year she makes herself known to me. I feel lucky. Seeing one this close up is great even if the light was bad.

I hope to see a barn owl in the wild, but realise that may be on a to do list for an England trip.
A wild bird rescue introduced these raptors. They are not falconers. I think most if not all of the birds for one reason or another are not capable of being in the wild. They may have been hit by a car, be partially blind, etc.

I was lucky enough to see one of these in a tree hole in the wild. Again, it was a thrill to see them up close.


I have seen peregrine falcons in the wild. They fly too fast for me to get a picture of one. I only got some of them perched on a cliff.
Your best view of these birds would be through a falconer or a rehabber who has an educational program. Take advantage of one of these programs, especially if you have kids. The children there were mesmerised.
Beautiful!
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They are!
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Owls are so amazing! We do have a few barn owls here on the outskirts of Houston.
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So nice! We get snowies and short rated in the winter. Mostly we have great horned, barred, and screech. Some saw whets are around. Usually on private property though. You can hear them, but to see you can’t.
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That’s amazing! My husband said he heard a screech owl last night…we haven’t seen one yet so…IDK 😉 Happy holidays!
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They are hard to find. By us they usually chose a tree hole they can block. They stand in it to sleep during the day. They blend in so well with the tree, If you live near a park or own acreage know the trees. See which ones have tree holes. Keep going back and looking. Here we start hearing them at sunset when they go out to hunt.
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Such lovely birds.
Gwen.
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I love watching the raptors soar above. We only have a few eagles in our area, but lots of falcons and hawks. Owl sightings are rare and always to be savoured on our walks. Happy Sunday Sharon. Allan
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Wonderful shots of beautiful birds, Sharon!
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Nice. Am always sad though to see them up close this way, rather than soaring above. But they are still alive and hopefully we learn from them.
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These are wonderful. Thank you for sharing. 🦉
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Thanks! I was glad I could see them for a few minutes.
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The Peregrine falcon is so sweetly gorgeous. The screech owls have an optical illusion effect when.
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That was the closest I have been to a peregrine. They fly like 200 miles an hour. Screeches are good at blending in with the tree.
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200 mph! Your skills are awesome to get that shot. What a beauty! The screeches are cute.
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It was posed. It was a rescue program. I never never gotten a good image in flight. Screeches are cute.
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All of your photos are lovely.
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Thanks!
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🥰🥰love this
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You only get to see them up close in this kind of situation.
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Hi Sharon,
we live at the coast of North Norfolk/East Anglia and see barn owls nearly every day (when knowing their places). We just visited a falconry. It was the first time for us
https://fabfourblog.com/2023/04/12/the-falcon/
Great pics 👍 Thanks for sharing
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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I live in NY presently but visit England. Barn owls are more rare to find here and if you find one in the wild and try to post it on Ebird they take the info down. I would love to go someplace in England to photograph a barn owl. It may end up being through a falconry show.
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