Paul Riddle

Passion for nature, 250+ owl nest boxes made, erected and continually monitored since 2008. licensed BTO owl nest recorder. All photos my own. LCFC supporter.

[Colin Green @greeny1955]

This afternoon myself and mi mate Paul Riddle have been busy starting to make 14 Owl boxes for land owners around South Leicestershire.
We must get out and check a few boxes as well.

[Paul Riddle @PMRiddle]

@greeny1955 Stunning!!! A superb reminder of what must have been a great encounter.👍🏻

[Paul Riddle @PMRiddle]

@gunsnrosesgirl3 Cornetto

[Paul Riddle @PMRiddle]

@emilyjoachim Same here Emily, 30 x previously productive sites checked, pairs at most but only 2 x sites breeding 🫣

[Paul Riddle @PMRiddle]

Out this evening with Mick & @greeny1955 checking more breeding boxes in south Leicestershire. First site had 4 x #Kestrel chicks that were soon ringed with the assistance of the landowners tractor. 2nd site had 5 x young #Barnowls that were soon ringed and returned. Happy days😜

[Colin Green @greeny1955]

Out again this evening with @PMRiddle checking 8 more of our Owl boxes under licence. But sadly only 2 adults seen and no eggs or chicks. We did have a couple of Little Owls and a couple of Grey Partridge.

[Paul Riddle @PMRiddle]

@greeny1955 Another enjoyable evening Col👍🏻

[Colin Green @greeny1955]

Been out this evening with
@PMRiddle checking some more of our Owl boxes under Licence. Out the 5 we checked, adults were at the boxes but only one box had 3 chicks. Not a good year for Barn Owls? On our patch anyway. We did have one of our kestrel boxes with 4 chicks👍

[Paul Riddle @PMRiddle]

A few owly images from my recent trip to Florida…..

[Paul Riddle @PMRiddle]

I managed to squeeze in another drive around the Leicestershire lanes at dusk. I was hoping for #littleowl but sadly none were located. However, a real bonus was this #tawnyowl, a very handsome fellow indeed that was quite vocal. Next trip out will be in pursuit of #barnowls….

[Paul Riddle @PMRiddle]

Got out in my truck this evening, the upturn with the spring like weather would surely mean the local owls would be active? A slow drive around the lanes finally produced a result when this Little Owl was chanced upon just before dusk, a nice poser too!!😜

[Paul Riddle @PMRiddle]

@ScarecrowNeste1 @greeny1955 I honestly don’t know, i guess about 10 years doing just the Barnie boxes and the total could now be as high as 300? Thanks for your comments 👍🏻

[Paul Riddle @PMRiddle]

Out this evening with ⁦@greeny1955⁩ finishing off our newly designed #barnowl & #kestrel boxes. All 7 are for a land manager in the south of Leicestershire.

[Paul Riddle @PMRiddle]

@WAVESOFPLEASURE Hi Paul, Col & I make them to order, great value at £85 each. Very well made and totally weather proof, will last for years!!

[Paul Riddle @PMRiddle]

Last night Col & I erected a Tawny Owl breeding barrel in a small spinney in south Leicestershire. The owner set up a trail camera below the box, she returned today to check if anything had been caught investigating, and unbelievably a Tawny Owl has already checked it out!😜 🦉

[Paul Riddle @PMRiddle]

Have been down the workshop with ⁦@greeny1955�� tonight. We’ve designed a new #barnowl breeding box that will hopefully prove to be suitable for the owls and maintenance free for many years to come.🦉😜

[Paul Riddle @PMRiddle]

@ilovenostalgia Marbles, butty, gitty & croggy

[Paul Riddle @PMRiddle]

@stuttonsparrows @ScarecrowNeste1 Although I haven’t actually recorded the local LO numbers for a few years there is no doubt that many known breeding sites from previous years now have no occupancy! My only conclusion is the increase in raptors (Buzzards mainly) that have possibly contributed to the decline??

[Paul Riddle @PMRiddle]

@HarriermanPhil @greeny1955 Good point!!!!👏👏👏We’ll take that into consideration when next putting up a box, cheers 👍

[Paul Riddle @PMRiddle]

Out with ⁦@greeny1955⁩ tonight repositioning one of our owl barrels that came down in the high winds.

[Paul Riddle @PMRiddle]

@HarriermanPhil @greeny1955 Nope, about 16ft, i’d say it was just about right????