Seen at night

Recently I've been taking a back road home from work. It's unpaved for much of its length, and cuts through a field much used to launch hot air balloons during warm weather.

Obviously there haven't been any balloon launches lately, but that doesn't mean no flying things. Twice in recent weeks I've spotted feathered things flash past, pale and large in my headlights as I drive carefully down the frozen dirt. I'm not sure what one was - it broke like a pheasant but was the wrong color, even for a hen - but the other was a barn owl, its great buff and brown wings scooping air without a sound as it flew overhead.

I love living in the country.