Barn Owl

This large, mature Barn Owl had been quartering a large area of uncultivated pasture in the shadow of one of North Norfolk's many rural churches. On a rather gloomy day and some distance from the owl, I had failed in my efforts to get a decent shot of the bird hunting and I missed its swoop on to something in the long grass. But when it showed itself again, I was able to get this image of it guarding its prey with a look that seems to say: "It's mine – be gone with you".