For Christmas this year, I received an Owl Box from one of my favourite people, my granson Tristan.

His Dad told me it literally took blood sweat and tears to build.

So in Feb, at great risk to life and limb, I managed to get it into an old ash, about 10 meters off the ground.

I expected a queue of owls all requesting accommodation. It didn't happen.

However, one evening late in July , a ghost like shadow passed through the yard at about 10.30pm.

Rushing out, I saw it float down along the front field ditch, rising at the end of the field, dropping again into the next field.

Waiting a few weeks I checked the Box, to find it filled with bits of sticks, grass and sheep's wool. The jackdaws had been busy, but here was no sign of any owl activity.

At the Game Fair in Birr this year, I met a guy from the Irish Wildbird Conservancy ( I think that's what its called). He spoke of the difficulty of getting Owls to nest in nestboxes.
He also told me of a case in England, where an owl was nesting, but jackdaws brought in so many sticks, that the owl became trapped inside and died.

Here's hoping for a tenant next year. (Rent reasonable)