We used to see barn owls frequently around here, just south of Bude in north Cornwall. Sadly, I haven't seen one for years. The farm I live on (not my farm!) has planted lots of trees, as has the adjoining farm. That's good in many ways but it's wrecked the open country habitat that barn owls thrive on. I used to drive from here down the coast to near Wadebridge to a session, and you'd often pick one up in the headlights just before complete darkness, flying across the road. That doesn't happen any more either. We get lots of little owls and we can always depend on tawny owls calling on cold, quiet nights. We get the odd sighting of a long-eared owl but I don't think I look hard enough.