Tawny owl

I have my being in silence, but without noise I'm nothing.

- As told to Simon Barnes

I love the night, the darker the better, but if I can't see I can't function. I long to stay forever in one spot, but to do so I must travel widely. And if I can truly seize the right place, I will surely be able to seize the time.

Monday

You know, my hoot’s getting better. Much better. I'm beginning to sound like an owl. A proper grownup male tawny owl. I was hatched this year and set out to seek my fortune a few months back. I need a place of my own, so when I find a likely spot, I stop and hoot. And for weeks it’s been sounding dreadful: the hoot of a real wet-behind-the-ears no-hoper. And when it’s answered by a macho hoot of a mature territorial male - I'm off.

Tuesday