The weather's been great and the culm meadow is already buzzing with insects and butterflies. It's a far cry from the grey January day when we put up a barn owl box in an old oak on the edge of Popehouse Moor.  My Dad provided the box and the expertise - he has a barn owl monitoring scheme in Sussex, where he also advises on planning applications for barn conversions (don't despair, a box will usually do the trick). Despite one fused knee and a certain seniority in years, he's still pretty sprightly going up ladders, even providing the finishing interior decor touch, a layer of chipped bark - owl equivalent of a DFS sofa.

Well, we didn't get a barn owl, but a tawny swiftly moved in. As the light failed in the evening we sometimes saw the adult leave the box and start hunting voles over the meadow.

Today I was out looking for flowers, and wandered beneath the box. I heard a shuffle, and presumed the adult bird was at home. But to my delight, when I looked up, there was a fluffy face peering down from the 'balcony'! So I snapped a shot before its owner bobbed back out of sight.

Young owls quite often leave the nest before they can properly fly. Their parents will feed them on the branches if necessary. This owlet hasn't ventured that far yet though, but I'll keep a watch out.