The fastest bird in the world, the Peregrine Falcon. This is actually a hybrid between a Peregrine and a Saker Falcon. The Saker Falcon is the one most favoured by the Arabs.
Look at this fella, a beautiful Tawny owl. This has got to be my favourite of all the Owls as I often hear but never see them. Well today I got a great view . This one was called 'Spud' and I can see why. Notice his black eyes, Owls with black eyes hunt at night, those with yellow eyes like the Little owl, hunt in the day and those with orange eyes like the Long eared and Eagle Owl, hunt at Dawn/dusk.
A Striped Owl from India, he was also beautifully marked and had a black love heart pattern around his face. Being only young he cried out constantly for attention, which in Owl terms means food.
The largest of all the Owls, the mighty Eagle Owl. On the day there was a wild Buzzard flying over the Bird Centre, all the smaller birds shrunk themselves down and tried to make themselves look as thin as possible on seeing it. That is all but this big girl, who viewed the Buzzard as a potential meal. Look at the way she watches the Buzzard over head. Owls are very long sighted and although she has no problem watching the Buzzard 200ft up, she would have difficulty focusing on her own feet.
This amazing bird was very different to the Owls, although much heavier than the Eagle Owl he landed much lighter. He had to be tied to the post by a line as the only thing on his mind was flying up high and attacking the wild Buzzard above.
Rooks gathered high above, circling, ready to mob him if he tried. A fantastic day and one I will not forget.
The day was really blowing a Gail, But unlike the Owls the Eagle loved the wind and was a much stronger flier. A large gust of wind blow the Eagle off course slightly as he came in to land and with talons that size, you had to move fast to avoid a trip to the hospital.
