Cheshire's Favourite Wild Life - 50 Personal Stories No 2

Tawny Owl - Mark Radcliffe

I am thrilled to report that my night garden is alive with the screech and chatter of tawny owls. After I put a box in the eaves of a barn and waited patiently, and occasionally impatiently, for a number of years, they have finally deemed it a safe haven and graced us with their presence. Every night at dusk two chicks frolic and chatter in the large sycamore and wait for their mother to return with scraps of food and ready to give them their next flying lesson.

Positioned on a wooden bench by the poind, I then sit motionless and entranced as they take their first tentative exploratory flights between the big tree and a nearby weeping willow. Sometimes they notice me and sit on the electricity wire regarding me with a mixture of nerves and lofty disdain. They quickly head for the cover of the leafy boughs. I can't tell you how thrilled we are to have them. Mind you, If you're lying awake at night unable to sleep their incessant calls don't make dropping off easy.

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Mark Radcliffe is a broadcaster, writer and musician, regularly heard on BBC Radio 2 and BB6 Music, often with his long term broadcasting partner Stuart Maconie. Mark has lived in Whitley, Cheshire, for a number of years where he enjoys walks among the local wildlife.

awwww thats great xx

48 more to go x

Brilliant I'm starting to like owls x

I hear an owl each evening, even. When it's still light. I've never seen it and wouldn't have a clue what kind it is either. My Ray said the other morning "listen, is that the owl?" it was a wood pigeon, bless...

xoxox

I have wood pigeon's - noisy little beggars