Roundup and Owls

It really has been a very quiet week for birds. They have obviously been keeping their heads down in the wet and windy weather, and who can blame them !!  Even our garden and fields/hedges nearby have been quiet.
We carried out the Webs count at Pitsford during the week and I've never seen so few birds on the big side.  There was just vast expanses of empty water and things were not much better on the small side.
Both the Short Eared Owl and Barn Owl remain at Harrington although earlier in the week the Barn Owl was giving cause for concern as it seemed in a poor state and appeared weak.  But fingers crossed that it is able to find enough food as it is still flying around trying to hunt. 
I think that the owls have been struggling to find food as the saturated fields and verges combined with the very strong winds have certainly made things difficult for them.
However this afternoon the Northants Birds Whats App was pinging off every few minutes with sightings of Short Eared Owl and Barn Owl sightings.  There were Short Eared Owls reported from Borough Hill and Brixworth and Barn Owls at Borough Hill, Brixworth, Hanging Houghton, Summer Leys, Thrapston, Islip, Irchester, Yardley Chase and the Bringtons.......phew, and these are the ones that we know about.  
The wind finally dropped this evening and this must have been such a welcome relief for these birds who must be hungry and were making the most of this opportunity.   

Regards Eleanor