I've lived in Dinas Cross for 15 years, & as of last year I hadn't seen a Barn Owl locally since the previous century or heard one for 10 years. So, was amazed to come across an active nest in the nearby cliffs from which 3 youngsters finally fledged.
Sadly, though I heard them a couple of times this Spring, the nest hasn't been reoccupied.
I wonder if the very wet Winter was as toxic for Barn Owls as the cold ones. The Bird Track reporting rate this year is c 50% of the historical rate.
I still haven't seen one flying in the 2000s!.
