Barnies around Tregaron bog

A fascinating afternoon spent barn owl ringing around the bog with Tony Cross who has been monitoring these birds and boxes for many years.  We were thrilled to find a good number of chicks at varying stages of development and although no food caches were found they all seemed to be in robust health.
The welfare of barn owls is well supported by the landowners and the delight of two stalwort helpers is shown in the pics though I'm not sure about the intentions of the terrier!
In spite of the recent weather owls seem to be having a better season than last year and Tony's boxes in local woods have had a surprisingly successful fledging rate for Redstarts and Piedies though the tits have taken a real hammering as I have witnessed in our camerabox.
One of these pics shows a small chick in the process of coughing up a pellet.  I was amazed that it was almost adult sized!  Afterwards it posed with its sibling and as Tony said 'only a mother' could love these two!