After lunch at patch'n'chat, when we went back through to the workroom I checked my phone, and found that I had a missed call from Malcolm. When I phoned home, he told me to go across the road to the Woollen Mill, as there was a display of owls and hawks in front of the mill (he had driven past earlier). I grabbed my camera, and some money, as I knew that I would be expected to put some in the donations bucket in return for taking the photos. I started taking photos from a reasonable distance, but the two men with the birds said to get as close to them as I wanted - I would be quite safe! So just look at these beauties ......
a red tailed hawk
I was a bit nervous about getting close to that beak!
a Mackinders eagle owl - he is 14 years old!
a gyr
I was fascinated by the tiny stitches on the hood .......
....... and the beautiful markings on the feathers
when I went over to take photos of this Eurasion eagle owl, one of the men said to me that the owl, named Ollie, didn't like men. He told me to stroke his chest (the owl's, not the man's!) ..... well, I didn't need to be told twice to do that. It was amazingly soft and fluffy, and the owl was obviously quite happy to be stroked. Then the man said, ok, watch this. He stepped up to the owl, which immediately rose up and hissed at him!!
I have saved the best till last ....... get ready to say aaaaaah! This is a four-month old Asian brown wood owl
all that remains is for me to hope that you all have a good weekend, and to share with you the Friday cake - a delicious fruit loaf. Love Anne