A rare barn owl was captured on camera after it was spotted on the Railway Trail in broad daylight.

Magnus Henagulph said he was able to snatch a photograph of the bird, usually a night creature, as it rested on a tree branch earlier this week.

Mr Henagulph, who works in public relations, added he had earlier seen the bird in flight, but had never been able to get close to it.

He said: “I was on the Railway trail in Sandys near Fort Scaur and saw the owl sitting on a tree branch about 15 feet away.

“It sat and calmly watched me for about five minutes, then nonchalantly flew off towards Fort Scaur.

“I have likely seen this owl a few times this summer flying past in the dusk hours as they are territorial and was amazed to see it just sitting there during daylight hours.

“Thankfully, I had my phone and managed to get a few photos.”

The Bermuda Audubon Society said there were only around a dozen nesting pairs of barn owls on the island.

They arrived on the island in the early 20th century.

They are regarded as an efficient form of pest control as they mainly exist on a diet of rats.