The first "Operation noctua" (where I followed a pair of local little owls breed successfully and raise two young) last year, ended on 15th October 2012 - and that was pretty-well when the owls (all four of them) disappeared.

They've therefore been "gawn" for eleven weeks (give or take), on autumn and early winter jaunts around the countryside.

That is.

Until today.

I hoped the owls would be back at their breeding site this year.  But I've got to admit I didn't expect BOTH adults (I assume) back so early in January.

Traditionally little owls lay claim to their territory pretty early - often it's the adult male that returns to guard a treasured breeding spot and he woos (or twoooos) his fancy bird in after a week or three. If the female appreciates the male's efforts, she'll then take over most of the guarding of the nest site - months before nesting seriously begins. (Last year regular readers of this blog might remember our local female little owl seeing off kestrels, crows and stock doves before she took up squatters rights to her owl box and laid two eggs).

Well... tonight, after a beautiful new years day and on a wee drive round the local "patch" just after the sun set (on a barn owl hunt as it happens), I thought I'd check on the little owl situation.

Lo and behold - one little owl at the entrance to the box and another adult perched on its breeding barn roof.

THEY'RE BACK!

So I am starting "Operation noctua (twoooo)" a little earlier than anticipated - on the first day of 2013 as it happens.

My health is still not 100% (I was in bed half of the day today after a terrible night's sleep last night) but MILES better than last year when I hardly had the energy to go and see the owls, let alone photograph them or video them.

So despite having a bonny new baby (and a wife!) to look after, I am hoping that I will be able to find much more energy (if not the time!) to follow our superb little owls this year....

HD video clips and photos to come later in the year of course (I hope) - give me a chance to ascertain exactly what's going on in their (the owls)world right now won't you (I don't want to spook them, even this early in the year).

Watch this space, grapple-fans.

TBR