While it sounds absurd, I feel as though barn owls appreciate a good sunset just as much as me.

On cloudy evenings i rarely see them poking their heads outside the barn. Yet on those rare UK evenings when the sun shines, i often enjoyed watching them bathing themselves in the last light of day.

Here one of the 2024 fledgelings pokes its head out of the barn, eyes closed, simply enjoying the sunset in what looks like complete peace.