Phantom the snowy owl shuns winter weather for the warmth of a heat lamp

Phantom the snowy owl enjoys the heat so much, he would rather sit under his heat lamp at Swinton Park Bird of Prey Centre, rather than in the cooler parts of his aviary.

Falconer Mandy Abbott with Phantom the Snowy Owl who is feeling the cold because his feathers didn't develop properly as a chick. Picture: Richard Doughty Photography

Phantom came to the centre as a young bird seven years ago, but after needing antibiotics for an illness shortly after his arrival, most of his feathers fell out.

Despite most of his plumage growing back, Mandy Abbott who looks after him, said the feathers did not grow back as well as they should have done.

“He can’t fly silently as owls should, so he would never survive in the wild. Snowy owls are meant to be kept in the cooler parts of the aviary with plenty of shade available to them, but we noticed Phantom always wanted to be in the sunshine,” she said.

“So last year we got him a heat lamp and he has been very attached to it ever since – he loves to sit under it and keep cosy.”

The bird of prey centre at Swinton Park was set up by Mrs Abbott’s daughter Sophie when she was just 17.

Mrs Abbott said: “Sophie loved horses, but then she watched Harry Potter at 12 and all she wanted was an owl.

“I said no – but as her dad and I work on the Swinton Park estate, she was able to go and help out at the aviary there.

“Eventually she was able to work in her spare time and when she was 17 she took over the running of it.”

Phantom was given to the new bird of prey centre from Kielder Bird of Prey Centre, and has been one of the most loved characters ever since.