The 2026 barn owl season delivered everything that makes following the Somerset Wildlife Trust owl box in the Blackdown Hills so special — excitement, worry, laughter, sleepless nights and unforgettable moments shared by the community of devoted viewers. 

April: The owlets arrive

The season truly came alive during the first half of April as eggs began hatching beneath devoted mum Trude. At first, viewers only caught brief glimpses of tiny white fluffballs hidden beneath her wings, but by 10 April the excitement was building as more owlets appeared.

By 21 April, the long-awaited confirmation finally arrived as avid viewer Yael Hodder exclaimed:

“We have 6 bobbles! Yay!”

Against the usual worries of staggered hatching and sibling competition, all six owlets survived those fragile first weeks — a huge achievement for Trude and Finn.

The size differences between the oldest and youngest chicks quickly became a major talking point. The oldest owlets were already developing strength and confidence while the youngest looked impossibly tiny beside them. Many viewers became especially attached to the smallest chick, anxiously monitoring whether it was getting enough food, which was rather a tough throwback to events of 2024.

Finn the provider

Throughout the season, Finn earned widespread admiration for his tireless hunting efforts.

Again and again, viewers commented on the “well-stocked larder” as mice and voles appeared regularly in the nest box. During dry weather periods, Finn seemed particularly successful, and several viewers noted how much easier hunting conditions were compared to wetter years.

There were plenty of memorable moments involving Finn. Viewers watched him arrive awkwardly with prey while Trude was absent, assist directly with feeding, and make multiple rapid deliveries during especially busy nights. His occasionally dishevelled appearance after long hunting sessions also became a frequent talking point.

One especially amusing moment described Trude loudly scolding Finn after he returned late to the box, only for him to reappear shortly afterwards carrying two mice — apparently having taken the hint.

Growing up fast

By late April and early May, the owlets were transforming rapidly.

The fluffy chicks viewers had first counted anxiously were suddenly opening their eyes, stretching enormous wings and developing impressive tail feathers. Before long, some were eating prey independently and beginning to stay alone in the nest box while the adults hunted nearby.

Many viewers remarked on how quickly the owlets stopped looking like “fluffy balls” and began resembling proper barn owls.

The live camera captured countless charming moments throughout this stage of development. The owlets sprawled face-down while sleeping, piled awkwardly on top of one another, stretched dramatically and squabbled noisily over prey deliveries. Every small behaviour became part of the unfolding story for those watching daily.

One especially memorable moment involved the smallest owlet struggling for nearly thirty minutes to swallow a vole almost as large as itself — a moment that gave viewers real hope for its survival.

The ringing event

The most discussed event of the season came on 11–12 May when the owlets were officially ringed.

In a surprise to many viewers, Trude herself was also ringed during the process. While the operation was handled carefully by experienced BTO ringer Roger Dickey, the event caused understandable concern among followers watching live.

Questions quickly appeared about whether Trude had been distressed, whether feeding behaviour might change, and whether the owlets would continue thriving normally afterwards.

We reassured viewers that the handling had been done as safely and calmly as possible, that Trude settled quickly afterwards, and that the owlets were returned peacefully to the nest. The ringing also meant Trude could now be positively identified in future seasons, something many followers had hoped for over several years.

Mid-May worries

As often happens in owl seasons, anxiety returned when food deliveries briefly slowed during windy weather in mid-May.

Several evenings passed with hungry screeching from the owlets and fewer visible prey deliveries. Viewers worried that the combination of poor hunting weather and the recent ringing event might be affecting the adults’ behaviour.

Thankfully, reassurance soon followed as both parents were confirmed nearby, weather conditions gradually improved and deliveries resumed. Even so, these tense nights revealed just how emotionally invested the owl community had become, with many viewers admitting how difficult it was to watch hungry owlets waiting for food.

A season to remember

The 2026 season captured everything people love about following the lives of wild barn owls — the uncertainty of hatching, the triumph of survival, the dedication of the parents and the astonishing speed at which the owlets grew.

Most of all, it highlighted the remarkable community that has formed around the nest camera. Viewers from many different places shared timestamps, screenshots, worries, celebrations and late-night observations together, creating a collective experience that became just as important as the owls themselves.

From six tiny “bobbles” in April to increasingly confident young owls by May, the season has already provided unforgettable moments — and there may still be more milestones yet to come.