Picking grapefruit in the orchard this morning and disturbed a bird that was in the nearby macadamia tree and I caught a glimpse of white as it made off to a branch in a handy eucalyptus. Thought is was likely to be an owl or possibly a goshawk but didn't go for a closer look instead went for the camera.
Getting back and looking to the tree where it headed, I found it was indeed an owl, a Barn Owl Tyto alba. It was a bit concerned that its perch was a little exposed so moved off to a higher position in another eucalyptus where it stayed and watched me as I took its photo.
The Barn Owl is found throughout Australia as well as all other continents except Antarctica which makes it one of the world's most widespread bird.
We often sight them in the cars headlights at night sitting on fence posts or swooping in to catch something flushed out of the grass on the road edge, however this is when they are often hit by cars.
