Since 2018, a pair of tawny owls, called Strix and Aluco (Strix aluco is the Latin name of the tawny owl) has nested in a purpose built nest box in the garden at Yew View. I have installed a series of cameras, that have improved over the years, to document their story. I currently have three Hikvision cameras at this nest box; 2 inside and one outside.

 

Every year, apart from last year, they have raised a family here. In 2020, she laid, but abandoned the eggs. We had a lot of flooding at the time and we think this may have affected her ability to hunt.

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2021 has been first year we have been able to live stream, thanks to a high speed broadband installation on site. It has been a great season with our tawny owlet, Nyx, fledging successfully

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 On Jan 23rd 2022, Aluco spent her 1st day inside the nest box. This is what she tends to do, leading up to breeding. 

She hatched 4 owlets  around the 24-26th March 2022. Three of thee survived  and fledged successfully into the garden. 

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We are now into our 2023 breeding season. Aluco occupied the box during the day from November and laid her first egg on Jan 29th, the earliest time we have recorded on site.