Living at the edge of three counties, (Wilts, Glos and Oxon) I often look at a number of sightings websites to decide the best places to visit and birds to see. However, I less frequently look at the Berkshire bird sightings unless I am considering a visit to my daughter who lives in that county. Today I was glad I did, as I noticed an sighting of a RED FOOTED FALCON, which had been spotted a day or so ago. I was even more pleased to find that it was at some gravel pits only 15 minutes away from my daughter's home.
Being a rare visitor to the UK I anticipated that it would generate quite a bit of interest, so decided to visit this morning, partly because it might not stay around long, and partly to avoid the popularity of a weekend. I noticed that the parking was in a pub car park, so was admittedly a bit concerned that owners might not be so pleased to see its car park filled with birders ( unless of course they popped in for a pint afterwards!). However, when I got to the carpark about 8.45. a,m I found it quite empty. Maybe the bird had flown on and I hadn't had updated information?
However, I decided it would probably be quite a pleasant walk anyway as the track led past the lake down to a the Kennet and Avon canal, It was overcast and a little chilly so I was glad of my jacket. I walked through a wooded area and stopped each time I could get a view of t the lake to see if I could spot any birds of prey which could be the falcon. I could only see swallows, house martins and swifts ( the last being a year tick). However, I could see a couple of people with long lensed camera/binoculars on the opposite side of the lake, though they didn't appear to be watchng anything in particular. I continued walking as far as the canal, and then returned.. still nothing. Another birder passed me and said he was looking for it too. I remained where I was and then suddenly spotted a brownish red bird flying amongst the swifts. The red footed falcon? I only saw it briefly before it disappeared behind some trees. The person I had passed returned and said he had seen it too and we decided we would get a better view if we walked round to the other side to join the other birders which we did.
There were about half a dozen people standing together in an opening between some trees which gave a view over three islands in the lake which the falcon had been favouring the previous day. They had also seen the falcon and were waiting for it to return which it did. It flew back and forth in front of use, twisting and turning, occasionally being chased by some crows or gulls, or even turning and chasing them off itself. . At one point it was joined a by a single hobby ( another year tick) which then perched distantly in some trees. Eventually the falcon itself perched for about half a minute in a tree on one of the islands and I took some record shots. Having enjoyed some great views of the red footed falcon, I eventually decided I had better go, Time was getting on and I had arranged to stop for lunch at my daughter's before going on a butterfly spotting trip during the afternoon when more sunshine was forecast.
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