If you catch a glimpse of a ghostly white shape moving slowly over the reens and grassland near the RSPB’s Newport Wetlands Visitor Centre late in the afternoon, the chances are you’ve been lucky enough to spot a barn owl.
With its heart-shaped face, honey coloured back and wings, and pure white underparts, the barn owl is a distinctive and much-loved British bird. The barn owl family shown on BBC Autumnwatch, filmed at the RSPB’s Ynys-hir reserve earlier in the year, captured hearts across the country and the local barn owl families on the Gwent Levels have been capturing ours.
Every day for more than a week, a barn owl has been seen flying low over the environs outside the Visitor Centre, wavering, hovering and pouncing on prey. On Friday, one bird even briefly perched on the wooden rail of the board walk down by our compost heap.
They are usually nocturnal hunters but can be seen during the day and the birds at Newport Wetlands have been seen between about 3pm and 4pm. This is probably because they’re making the most of any dry or still weather - they struggle to hunt in the rain as they use sound to spot their prey and this is drowned out by any rain. Their prey of choice is small mammals, such as voles, shrews and mice.
Barn owls are specially protected in the UK and despite once being widespread have suffered declines in the last 100 years due to the use of pesticides and agricultural intensification. So if you can, make sure you come down to Newport Wetlands Visitor Centre from about 3pm onwards for a chance to see this beautiful bird of prey.
Other notable sightings in the last week include hen harrier, kingfisher and pintail.
And if you need another excuse to come down, we have a great sale on in the Visitor Centre shop at the moment, with many gifts at half price.