Couldn't resist another look at Pilling today, and the three Barn Owls didn't let us down.  Mark and I watched them for a good couple of hours before darkness fell.   

Hoggy and I haven't been birding together for ages, probably not since our last visit to Pilling when several owls put on a fine display for us.  So today, after visiting an unremarkable and very flooded Leighton Moss, we decided to return home via Pilling.  Just as the light was beginning to fade, three Barn Owls sprang into action over the fallow fields next to Bradshaw Lane.  Great to see them back.      

A birding visit on Sunday, then a family visit midweek, then another birding visit today: the Wirral Peninsular has been a second home recently.  So too has the Ship and Mitre in Liverpool.  Today, Mark and I saw 7 raptors again:  Merlin, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Kestrel, Buzzard and Long-eared Owl, all again at Burton Mere RSPB reserve.  A Green-winged Teal also showed well.