Night Moves

Every night, just before bed, I take Josie out into the small park opposite our house where she sniffs around and has a pee. Last night we were joined by a moon-white Barn Owl that circled low above us, seemingly intrigued by the pale-coated Labrador in the torch beam . It’s always such a thrill to witness the buoyant, utterly silent flight of these ghostly owls and no wonder that so many people associate them with a spirit world.

Watercolour sketch; Vermont, west of Hermanus, South Africa.