For several years we have been visited by owls. I’m not sure if we are on their stopover route or if it is just a good food area. At any rate, it's fun to see them from time to time, even if they don't seem to stay around for long.
The other morning, on the sheep shed roof, one of our occasional visitors turned up. Perched on an overlooking corner, Owlie surveyed the neighborhood, presumably hoping to harvest a vole or a skittish red squirrel.
Activity around the shed went quiet quickly as our visitor patiently watched for a possible meal.
By luck, I remembered that there was a camera close by. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in watching, I forget. So, out through the door pane (never ideal to photograph through window glass) Owlie struck a pose. I made the above image just as Owlie lifted off rather suddenly. After just a few seconds, the sky rained crows! They seemed to be coming from every direction, screaming their brains out and flying frantically.
Little did I know that owls and crows are not best friends. In fact, an Internet search informed me that they are bitter enemies. When an owl is noticed by a recon crow, a wild alert is sounded, calling all available to attack mode, stat.
I learned that there is actually a name for what I saw/heard — mobbing! It happens when crows find owls and hawks. Other species do this too — even people, I'm afraid!
It was pretty intense, and I'm not sure if Owlie survived. No owls since, sorry to say.