Troy

This is Troy the tawny owl, who lives at the Hawk Conservancy near Andover. I went back there today to take my American sister and brother-in-law. They loved it and we had a fab afternoon, despite the fact it wasn't very warm and at times rather wet.

First we watched a peregrine, eagles and vultures flying in the Valley of the Eagles, then (after the all important cuppa and cake - chocolate this time, for those who care about such things - like, all of us!) we saw the owls flying in their own wooded area. That's where I got this shot of Troy.

Owl Facts: Tawny owls,which you can cop in the wild here if you're lucky enough, are sometime also called Ivy Owls, because you so often see them - when you see them at all - roosting in ivy growing on tree trunks. They are mis-named 'wise' though, as most of them of Troy's sort of size have brains the size of a broad bean..

My flying shots are mostly still rubbish, but I did get one of a vulture flying low over the audience that I very nearly posted. So I feel I'm advancing, if only a little. But in the end I couldn't resist this little fella, he was just the sweetest and kept peep peeping at his (male) keeper, who I think he thought was his mum.

Thank you so very much for helping me to the Spotlight this week, your lovely comments are greatly appreciated and really help to make my world go round x