For over a year I have been hearing the screeching and hooting of Tawny Owls from my flat, just off of Beverley High Street, at night. Some nights it has been so loud that it has woken me up and there have been at least two Owls calling to each other. Although I live right in the town centre, I am close to the library, which has a number of mature trees in its grounds, and a car park which also has some very large trees. Added to this there are a couple of large gardens nearby and tree-lined residential roads.

Last night, I finally got to see one of these owls. At about 7.30 pm as it was getting dark my wife and I went out. To get to the car we had to cross the nearby car park and as we did a big tawny Owl flew over some roof tops and into the large trees in the car park at the back of some houses.

It was quite satisfying to finally see one here and it is quite amazing to see this species right in the town centre.

In addition, this morning as I was walking across the car park again, a large group of Long-tailed Tits were feeding noisily. In the past I have heard Goldcrests singing in the same location; maybe I should start a Beverley town centre list!