Hiboux for Les Hiboux

Yesterday we were awoken by urgent pukpukpucking from the resident moorhens swimming in the millstream outside our bedroom window. The reason for such an alarm? Perched on a post overlooking the stream was a long-eared owl asio otus (hibou moyen-duc). The owl's gaze was directed into the clump of flag iris where the moorhens live, but when it heard us at the window, it turned that thousand mile stare on us....

Hoo...you lookin' at??! Eh!!?

It stayed several minutes perched on the post in the drizzle, being clucked at by the moorhens and buzzed by the kingfisher#, before it took off and flew downstream. Another moorhen then took up the alarm, suggesting that it only flew a little way, to the next moorhen territory.

Hey you! Yes, you in the blue smoking jacket!!

Hi! Come here often? Don't mind me... just doin' a spot of fishin.
You're not a Brown Fish Owl are you?

 Appropriate that an owl should visit us on the same day as two members of the Leeds 2CV club (Les Hiboux)!

# Missed a super shot though.... couldn't get to the camera in time.... the kingfisher came back to the perch, landed, immediately took off and hovered in front of the owl... and then shot back under the bridge just as I reached the camera!