A blog to share barn owl and other wildlife and general news about the Retreat and its environment.
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All four owlets can now fly up and out of the nest box
14. July 2025 - Wildlife
This evening, for the first time, the fourth and youngest owlet, 54 days since hatching, has managed to fly up from the base of the nest box and gain purchase on the exit hole. Its first three siblings have been exiting the box for a few days now, particularly the first two, achieving this for the first time at 56 days, 56 days, and 55 days respectively.
The first two hatchings have quickly become confident flyers. The third-hatched, at the right of the group (with its first outing being only two days ago, and still quite downy on the abdomen) is less confident but is nevertheless flying around.
Looking at the front view (above), the owlets at far left and far right appear to be female. Both show some of the typical little black spots on their flanks (not easy to see on these photos), and have darkish throats, both of which are female characteristics. The rightmost owlet (third-hatched) also has darker brown plumage which is more common in the females.
The central two are likely to be males but it will require opportunity for some sharper photos with the plumage undisturbed by movement or breeze to be more sure of this.
