A BARN OWL called Bob, who’s been living in a box by himself for several years, has found a mate called Brenda.

Bob was the solitary occupant of an owl box at Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Lorton Meadows Nature Reserve, near Weymouth.

Now he’s been joined by Brenda, it’s reckoned that five or more eggs may soon be laid.

Incubation would then take about 30 days.

However, only two owlets may survive, because barn owls, like other birds of prey, frequently eat some of their offspring.

Whatever happens, it’s all watchable by owl box webcam.

Dorset Wildlife Trust’s People & Wildlife Officer, Sam Dallimore, says: “The prospect of being able to follow the breeding of a barn owl family from start to finish is really exciting and will provide all sorts of data that will prove useful.  That the viewing is available for everyone to enjoy is both informative and a real insight into the day to day activity of one of our most charismatic native birds.”

Many wildlife enthusiasts have begun watching Bob and Brenda. In another nest box at the same reserve, where last year a pair of kestrels took up residence and produced a family, a comparable webcam attracted thousands of viewers from as far afield as South Africa.

Watch the barn owls at http://www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/raptorcam.html

Lorton Meadows nature reserve is open daily at Lorton Lane, Upwey, Weymouth, DT3 5QH (pictured below)