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Tyto alba
This Barn Owl has been seen for the last 3 weeks hunting around the open fields at the Sachuest National Wildlife Refuge in Middletown, RI. This is the northern limit of their range and a very uncommon sight around here.
The Barn Owl has excellent low-light vision, and can easily find prey at night by sight. But its ability to locate prey by sound alone is the best of any animal that has ever been tested. It can catch mice in complete darkness in the lab, or hidden by vegetation or snow out in the real world. (Cornell)
16 Comments
Thank you Leanne. These are interesting birds and the Cornell site I linked has more great fun facts about the owls.
Beautiful as always Tom. What a lovely owl & great info. I learnt something today :)
Thanks Fyn and Sarah. It was fantastic watching this owl hunting in the middle of the afternoon in good light.
Gorgeous photos!
Great bird, Tom!
Thanks blaise.
nice series
Thanks for the nice comments Patty and Adarsha. Emily I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a Great Gray:-)
Absolutely adorable pictures Tom!
Great picture and series!
Well, knowing your luck lately Tom, I'd bet money it will! ;)
Thanks Emily. I'm still hoping for a Great Gray to show up:-)
Dang it Tom! You and your owls! Another wonderful series!
Thanks Bill and Ashley. I was excited to see and photograph this owl today. I've only seen 1 other Barn Owl and that was over 20 years ago and this is the first time I photographed one. They are rare up here due to our harsh winters. There's some on the islands off Cape Cod, on Martha's Vinyard and Nantucket, but even there most died off a few years ago during a particularly harsh winter.
You and your owls, Tom! Great series as usual, these guys are so hard to find for me!
Great pics Tom! I haven't seen one of these in a few years, and they are now endangered in Illinois. Such a beautiful bird!