This is a relaxed barn owl surveying its territory. Barn owls are common in many parts of the world and are responsible for keeping the rat population under control. Nests are usually in barns or holes in trees, but sometimes quarries or rocky outcrops are used.  I was privelaged to pass by a barn owl nest regularly on my night walk.  I couldn't see much as the nest was high on a building ledge but could hear the chicks screeching, and they made a lot of noise!  The anticipation of hearing them at a particular point of my walk was quite motivating.

The barn owl has elcellent low-light vision, and can easily find prey at night by sight.  But its ability to locate prey by sound alone is the best of any animal that has ever been tested.  It can catch mice in complete darkness in the lab, or hidden by vegetation or snow out in the real world. 

(Artwork is currently on gallery wrapped canvas and unframed. The painting can be shipped rolled up or streched. Shipping on actuals.)