Tags
Anthriscus sylvestris, Barn Owl, cow parsley, February2020, Hedges, Iris reticulata, mixed variety hellebores, Narcissus 'Tete a Tete', Primula vulgaris, six on saturday, storm Dennis, Winter weather
Dorris has had to take a back seat as my free time has been given elsewhere. I began a Six for last Saturday, without finishing, some of which are here now plus one or two others which have appeared despite the incessant winds, rain and snow.
At work I and my colleagues have undertaken the task of removing a dying and in places dead, hedge of Leylandii.
Planted as a wind break the hedges were kept tightly cut. Now removed they have been replaced with Taxus baccata, Yew.
Thankfully the hedge was not wholly all Leylandii. Inter planted between Buxus, here are the Yews in their new places. Dennis has thrown his best and worse and I am pleased to confirm that they are still standing.
Other sightings to share are the signs of Spring
It has been disgustingly wet weather, for what now seems like forever. Despite this I did manage a walk this week across saturated ground where I caught sight of a white bird in flight. Its flight pattern caught my eye and to my surprise I realised that it was a Barn Owl. For several minutes my friend and I watched in awe as the owl flew, seemingly effortlessly, across the field, hunting. I have only ever seen an owl fleetingly picked out by my car headlights. Never have I had the privilege of watching an owl in broad daylight. Alas my phone camera could not capture the sight well.
These are my Six on Saturday
Wishing you all a good weekend wherever you are. Thanks for reading. D.
Please now wash your hands.
digwithdorris.com 
The barn owl must have been a magnificent site. In our garden we can hear the owls at night time but the only one we see during the day is a Little Owl.
I used to regularly catch sight of a Little Owl on my way home from where I work but sadly not for a few years now. It was indeed a magnificent sight. Thank you
I agree, you’ve been very fortunate to see the owl, and even better to get a photo of it.
It was such a wonderful sight. I was holding my breath in case I scared it away!
Seeing a Barn Owl in flight is something wonderful isn’t it? They love like silent ghostly assassins. Lovely Hellebores and always good to see primroses.
I now understand why they get that ghost like comparison. Against the grey winter sky you just wouldn’t see them. Such a spectacular sight. Thank you
Those are some big Buxus! Is it common for them to be so big? They are used as low hedges around roses because they stay so small, and are so easily kept small.
They are! Over 6ft.they are used for topiary and around roses here too but if left to grow they will develop into massive bushy trees that can be shaped. They love the chalky soil in the Chilterns and make good hedges suited to cloud pruning.
Your spring flowers are really full of colour. Such great things to see after winter. The hedge work looks massive! The slice of the trunk is quite artsy in colouring. As to the owl, they can’t hunt when it rains, so your owl was probably hungry & glad for some dry weather. Hope you see it again.
I wondered if the rain meant it was making the most of a dry spell to get out hunting.
The hedgework is a good size and I had a couple of chainsaw strong helpers. Very rotten trunk rather than artsy but now you mention it…