A feather in my cap !

I was out and about in Chorlton yesterday, luckily with my camera, and look who I bumped into !

The owner has hand reared this European Eagle Owl from being just a few months old. It is now aged four and still growing. He was tame enough to stroke and had the most incredible eyes that almost glowed in the sunshine. Apparently in the wild it can take down a fully grown deer by attacking it in the neck region !  It has no problem with other smaller animals, and so I was glad it was lassoed to the guys wrist with all the tempting pet dogs that were out for a walk with their owners. A beautiful sight.