Visitors to
Westleton Heath in Suffolk this morning might recognise this view (left) of a grey, red and black smudge sitting on a distant stick.
Falco naumanni, to give a grey, red and black smudge it's scientific name, looked more like a swift than a Lesser Kestrel as it sat, sickle-winged, in the gloom. But even in this appalling photo you can see the unmarked back. And despite the mist, rain and limited views, it was still
exhilarating to see my first new bird of 2010 - well worth a day's leave. We were very fortunate to arrive at 0800 and see the bird shortly thereafter, as by 0900 it
had gone missing and the rain had set in. By the time it showed again we needed to be on the way home to allow my travelling companion to meet work commitments. Good to see at least one
Dartford Warbler had survived winter on the Suffolk heaths, though the Great Grey Shrike (right) nearby might now represent a greater peril than the snow. Anyway, back to my excellent Kestrel photo: if you look closely you can just make out the pale claws...
Visitors to Westleton Heath in Suffolk this morning might recognise this view (left) of a grey, red and black smudge sitting on a distant stick. Falco naumanni, to give a grey, red and black smudge it's scientific name, looked more like a swift than a Lesser Kestrel as it sat, sickle-winged, in the gloom. But even in this appalling photo you can see the unmarked back. And despite the mist, rain and limited views, it was still exhilarating to see my first new bird of 2010 - well worth a day's leave. We were very fortunate to arrive at 0800 and see the bird shortly thereafter, as by 0900 it
had gone missing and the rain had set in. By the time it showed again we needed to be on the way home to allow my travelling companion to meet work commitments. Good to see at least one Dartford Warbler had survived winter on the Suffolk heaths, though the Great Grey Shrike (right) nearby might now represent a greater peril than the snow. Anyway, back to my excellent Kestrel photo: if you look closely you can just make out the pale claws...
