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KITLIST
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Portable hide
To minimise disturbance, you could think
about using a portable hide if you have
access to land where it is permitted. Once
you have identified the owl’s preferred
feeding areas, get in position early and
conceal yourself, either in a pop-up hide
or in a more portable bag hide.
Binoculars
If I’m photographing wildlife, I never leave home without my
binoculars. They are much lighter and
clearer to look through than a
camera, so make finding the
wildlife so much easier.
They’re great for
scouting locations
before going back
with your camera.ALL PICTURES © OSCAR DEWHURST
As the barn owl
spread its wings
before it dived down
for its prey, the
sunlight penetrated
its feathers
Nikon D800, 400mm with
2x teleconverter, 1/1000sec
at f/5.6, ISO 1250Exposing for the
sunlit owl meant
the background was
rendered darker
Nikon D800, 400mm with 2x
teleconverter, 1/1000sec at
f/5.6, ISO 1250Barn owls are popular and photogenic
birds; however they are a protected species.
Oscar Dewhurst explains how and when
to capture them with minimal disturbance
INSTANTLY recognisable with their heart-shaped face,
buff upper parts and white under parts, barn owls are
very popular birds, whether you’re a wildlife lover or not.
They are widely distributed across the UK, where they
inhabit many areas of open countryside. Listed on
Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981,
during the breeding season it is an offence to
intentionally or recklessly disturb them at an active nest
site or to disturb dependent young. It is important to
bear this in mind if trying to photograph them during
the breeding season. Don’t be tempted to go too close
to the nest site. If your presence puts the adults off from
bringing food back to the chicks, that would classify as
disturbance. The best way to photograph them without
causing disturbance is to fi nd where they hunt so you can
get into position early and minimise your impact on them.
Barn owls are primarily nocturnal, although at this time
of the year when they may have chicks to feed, they can
be seen out in the early mornings and late afternoons/
evenings. With the long daylight hours we have in the UK
during summer, you will need to be out either extremely
early or fairly late in the day to maximise your chances.
Favoured hunting areas include fi eld edges, riverbanks,
roadside verges and rough grassland. Spend some early
mornings and evenings scouting for them with just a pair
of binoculars from a distance so you can work out which
areas they tend to use, and where you might be able to
position yourself to avoid disturbing them.WILDLIFE WATCH
Barn owls
Oscar
Dewhurst
is an award-winning wildlife
photographer from London.
Currently a postgraduate
Biology student at
Durham University, he has
photographed a wide range
of subjects, ranging from
urban foxes and bitterns to
rainforest wildlife in the
Peruvian Amazon. See
http://www.oscardewhurst.com