One of the most magical sights at Lower Winsford Farm has to be our resident barn owls.

These beautiful birds have made the farm their home, and we feel incredibly privileged to share our little corner of Devon with them. With several owl boxes positioned around the farm, it is not unusual to spot the owls flying between them as they go about their daily lives.

At this time of year, they are especially busy as they raise their young. As evening falls and the countryside begins to settle for the night, you can often hear the unmistakable calls of the owlets as they eagerly wait for their parents to return with food.

Each evening, as dusk approaches, the adult owls head out across the fields and woodland on their nightly hunt. Watching them glide silently over the landscape is a truly breathtaking experience. Their ability to fly almost completely noiselessly is remarkable, allowing them to move through the darkness with incredible grace and precision.

Once their hunting duties are complete, the parents often retire to one of the nearby owl boxes to rest, whilst the youngsters remain safely tucked away in their own nesting box.

If you are particularly lucky, you may find yourself standing in exactly the right place as one of the barn owls passes overhead. Seeing one fly just a few feet away is something you never forget. Their pale feathers seem to glow in the fading light, and their elegant, silent flight is both captivating and humbling. It’s in these moments that you truly appreciate just how beautiful these birds are.

The barn owls are just one of the many wonderful wildlife residents that call Lower Winsford Farm home. Alongside deer, birds of prey, woodland birds, and our growing family of alpacas, they help create the peaceful connection with nature that makes this place so special.

As the evenings grow longer, we find ourselves looking forward to their nightly appearances, listening for the calls of the youngsters and watching their parents set off on another hunt across the farm.

For us, they are one of the true treasures of Lower Winsford Farm, and we hope our future guests will enjoy seeing them as much as we do.