The Gate Keeper

The Short-eared Owls were up before the sunrise in Cornwall this morning and one of them appeared to be on early gate duty to welcome all Cornwall wildlife Trust's visitors onto its reserve.

A blue sky dappled with colourful passing clouds created a dramatic backdrop to the first owl seen on the wing over the moor.

The birds plumage was tinted in a cool yellow with the early morning glow from the sunrise.

But within an hour the reds, oranges and browns in these birds gorgeous soft plumage was beginning to show at its best as the owls began to hunt over adjacent rough grass fields.

The two birds that I had been watching had within an hour taken several voles and both birds went to ground out of sight to consume their prey,  I had already captured many more owl images so it seemed like the right time to head off for my breakfast as well .