Talk about bad hair day - only glad mum wasnt there with her camera when I got up this morning - with the lid closed on my box I had just got hot and bothered so when dad opened it I was wet from head to toe - and do you know he said I looked a mess - well words to that effect
Then when mum saw me she laughed - great - and they know just how insecure I am at the minute too!!!
I've had a nice day all in all - mainly cos whenever mum was around she picked me up and set me down on her lap so I could wander around - its a great feeling - freedom.... and I've had cuddles galore - mind you its amazing how I have sussed just how to get the cuddles - I just have to pose for some pictures - or stand tall - or better still, stretch my wings!! Already when I stretch my wing span is pretty amazing - think we might have to get mum to measure it for you all next time....
So here are a few of the posing pictures....lol
And mum finally managed to get a decent photo of my part opened wing - you can clearly see the quills now - there is a name for this - but mum seems to have forgotten it - again!!! She will ask dad again - and tell you all next time....
I havent had any mice today - just 5 chicks and I weighed 11 1/4oz again today - now if you have been paying attention, you will notice that I weighed the same 2 days ago - that was because when I was weighed that day I hadnt produced a cast, but when I was weighed today I had produced a cast so this is a true weight
Dad actually bought a very good set of digital scales when he had Sid, so when us birds are weighed it is very very accurate - and dad has a chart for me so he records how much I weigh, how much I have eaten, and very soon when I start to fly, he will also register how many metres I have flown and the weather conditions!!!
All thats over with for now - so here is a great photo of me, I had just been practicing how to fly - well I suppose thats an exageration as it was more how to have a stretch and good flap of my wings - I think the photo sums it perfectly!
And on that note - its time to say bye for now - so will finish with a few more photos
See you same place tomorrow
Byeeeee
Dont you just hate mums sometimes? Take today - there I was in my box, lid closed so I get some proper sleep, then cos I hear mum and dad chatting I just try to say hello in my own way - well then dad gets up and opens the lid for me and I stood tall and peeped over the side, and I reckon mum decided then she was going to embarrass me - just look at this photo and you will see just what I mean!!!
Yep so there I am, in my dirty looking box - my head all damp and dull due to been hot in my box - and she gets the camera out - GREAT!!!!
Then while mum is getting washed and dressed dad pops my box into mums craft room - so again when she came through the door she smiled and told me I looked cute - and hey I love those little compliments - then grabbed the camera to snap me peeping over the edge....
When mum came in this afternoon she brought a friend back so as usual I was star of the show - I was picked up and plonked on the cooker top so I got all clever and stood tall and flapped my wings - only to stumble off the ring - what a plonker I felt!!!
Back in the box I went for a while - as the saying goes - you need beauty sleep - I know I dont but hey I will nap at every chance while I can!!!
Tonight was nice cos I was laid on mums lap - and I decided to give her a real treat so I carefully got onto y feet and slowly I stood upright - do you know I am taller than an upright kitchen roll when I do this - so mum grabbed her camera and took this shot....
Have to say I look pretty good even though I do say it myself - dont you all agree? So I stood there for a few moments - I know mum and dad love to see it and I really am a show off!!!
All too soon I tire and this is the last piccie taken for today....
Isnt it amazing how much I change in just one 24 hour period? Who would believe that the scrawny think on Day 1 is the same beautiful thing shown here on Day 16?
I will leave you with that thought.....
I have lots to tell you about from today - I was treated to a day out - yippee!!! What I didnt know as we set off was that I was to be on my best behaviour - and not nip at all the hands that would be in and out of my box all day long!
Seems dad had agreed to take the Harris Hawk and me over to our local Woodlands as they were having an Easter Fayre....
The sun was shining and the people came...all I heard over and over again - ohhhh look at the chick - I really wanted to yell "I ARENT A CHICK I'M A BARN OWL" but thankfully mum was on the ball and put people straight...so then the barage of questions, how old was I? Was I an orphane? Boy or Girl? Could I fly? and the favorite "can I hold IT"
Mum answered the questions but I have to say I breathed a huge sigh of relief when she said "no sorry, you cant hold the owl".
I can tell you I was so fed up in the end of in the box, out the box, grubby fingers from all directions wanting to stroke me, and I have already found I dont like it when people decide to stroke the wrong way - most people stroke head to tail but the odd few had to try tail to head and its so uncomfortable - so I would fidget, and a few times I think mum thought she was going to drop me!
By lunchtime I had just about had enough so every time I was picked up I started to flap my wings - I really wanted them to work today - to carry me out the way - but flap as I did - nothing more than a draft was formed that blew off the loose downy fluff!!!
I was so fed up that i just didnt eat all day long - mum had a mouse on hand for me but I just wasnt interested - mind you I did weigh in at a staggering 11 1/4oz today - and once home and safe again I started to eat so have had 3 chicks and 1 mouse in all....
People made a few suggestions on names at the fayre - mostly it was yound ladies who suggested we go for a unisex name - so we were given Jay, Leigh, and mum forgot the rest so they obviously werent interesting - and I dont think - erm no, I HOPE she doesnt go for one of those two either - cos I dont like them!!!
And this is the last piccie for today - I posed and mum said I looked so cute and she loved the photo - hope you do too!!!
Hi everyone - bet you really look forward to my mum adding her daily info on here now dont you?
At weigh in this morning dad announced I was a "mega heavyweight" I can tell you, I wasnt happy - but what did he expect? I hadnt produced my daily cast at that time.
For those who dont know what a cast is - its not pleasant - but basically its all the fur, feathers, teeth, bone etc that I dont digest from the chicks and mice I have - and a cast from me can weigh around 1/2oz, and is around 3 to 4cms long so better up than down...
Anyway, a little unusual but today I produced 2 casts, the 2nd being only small....and my weight is 10 3/4oz and I had eaten 3 chicks and 2 mice.
When mum came to take the photos tonight, she was talking away to me - asking so nicely that I look at the camera - and she even tried to get me to stand upright like I've been doing all day long - but nah - just like a kid - I refused!!!
So she is snapping away and didnt realise the strap of her camera was dangling just in front of my beak - so I grabbed it and hung on tight - thought I may have had a telling off but she mumbled something about how cute I was.....amazing how a ball of fluff gets away with so much isnt it?
You will notice in the photos now that I realy do have lots of fluffy stuff all over and the feathers are clear to see on my head now - or at least the quills are
Mum will have to try tickling me or something next time so I have a good wing stretch and that will make it easier for you all to see the pretty feathers showing on my wings!
Well its pretty late and I have been awake for at least an hour now so think its past my bedtime...
Night night my friends.....
Do you know I'm all excited tonight - and why I hear you ask.... Well all because my mum has actually taken my out my box and let me play on her craft room floor!!!
Take a look for yourself....
Dont know that she altogether trusts me though, dad brought me upstairs and told mum I had just had the last food of the day - yet when I made my way to her beloved handbag she had this look on her face - and quite loudly said "dont you dare!!!" As if I would!
Mind you, I know that Eva took a liking to mums bag - and even left giant claw marks on it so maybe she was right to be worried - though with talons like these I still havent any control over them!
I actually left the rug and ventured onto the wooden floorboards - what a shocker they were - no softness, and so difficult to grip on to - nearly did the splits more than once I can tell you - now that would have been a good photo wouldnt it? Wonder if mum would have sent it to You've Been Framed and bagged some cash....lol
You can actually see my lovely feathers coming through on my wings in the above photo - I know mum was nagging at me to open my wings wide for a photo but in the end she had to be happy holding the wing open for a photo - I was been awkward tonight!
This photo is a good one to show the disc shape of my face - all too soon it will take its shape and colour and turn me from what you see here - into something quite beautiful!
Mum really should have given my face a wash before todays close up photos though but never mind!
Before we go, at my weigh in this morning I tipped the scales at 9 7/8oz and have munched my way through 4 chicks and 2 mice - and today was my very first attempt at gripping the food and trying to tear it for myself!
I really am growing up now....
Dont forget - I am still looking for suggestions for a name - many thanks to Ann for her suggestions!
Today I have reached 9 1/4oz so doing really well - and today is the 1st time I have managed to eat a mouse in full - usually dad has to chop it into tiny pieces like the chicks - anyway, ive eaten 4 mice and 2 chicks which were in chunkier pieces too
Dad said I am defo a lot bigger than Sid was at this stage - when I can be bothered I stand tall and can actually see everything thats going on over the edge of my box which is good fun!!!
And I spread my wings all the time to strengthen them - and show off my new feathers - cos I love to show off if you hadnt already noticed!!!
Here are todays photos....I know you all love to look and see the progress!
As you know, its impossible to tell if I will be male or female until the feathers come through on my chest - then marks appear as in tiny dot like marks for males and more like slashes of colour for females - as it is my parents think I will be a female as everything I do seems to be the opposite of Sid - lets hope they are right!
But now its down to you my faithful followers - I would like you all to have a think of a name - for now you might have to come up with a girls and a boys name - or maybe one that is suitable for eaither
Then when the time comes to be named - if we use a name one of you chose, we will buy an Owl Box and add your name to it as a thank you!!! So that serves a dual purpose
Add your suggestions to the comments box please!
Thats it for today folks....
See you all tomorrow - same time, same place
Byeeeeeee
Only made today with a few minutes to spare but what a treat - to start with we made a little video clip that will let you hear what my mum has to put up with all day long!!! - Sadly it just wont upload to this so mum will look into why and what to do next!!!
Again I have spent loads of time on mums lap - you can tell that by the photos - but she did pop me onto a comfy cushion to take some snaps - I can tell you I was scared so tried flying off - mum started singing some silly song to me - I wish I could fly - but I cant!!! She is so wicked dont you think?
Some more good news too - the tips of my wings are starting to show colour so it really wont be too long before the camera can pick it up too!!
Forget to tell you all yesterday, I had 4 chicks and 2 mice and at my morning weigh in I was 9 1/8oz - it really wont be too long before I tip the scales at ONE WHOLE POUND
So here are todays photos....
