An invitation to visit family, not far from Stokenchurch meant another opportunity to marvel at the Red Kites in the Chiltern Hills. Anyone who has left the M40 at junction5 and passed through Stokenchurch, will have seen the sky full of Red Kites. Once part of a re-introduction scheme, the population seems to be huge now and, not to everyone's liking. The Kite has become very much a garden bird, skimming the house roofs and grabbing from the gardens whatever takes its fancy.
To me, one of our most wonderful large raptors with slow motion acrobatics as they twist and turn in the sky. The following images were taken from the garden with an unforgiving white sky to deal with, but a great experience getting close to the Red Kites. I've just returned from a week on Jersey C.I. on a 'non-birding ' holiday, but still managed to find an Iberian Chiffchaff during the week! With excellent walking weather, the coastal paths soon revealed the Choughs which seem to be doing well, following their introduction. Common Buzzard and Marsh Harrier are in good numbers and, Short-toed Treecreeper was an unexpected resident on the island. Hornsea Mere from Kirkholme Point. Before I went away, at least 6 Hobbies possibly more, were being seen regularly over the Mere. Hobby is a falcon I've never seen enough of and certainly not in a feeding area. Previous sightings have usually been of a bird 'passing through' and I've never spent time watching them feeding in the air. My arrival this morning was a little early for the Hobbies and I was greeted by the local Jackdaws, strutting about round the car. A look through all the Canada and Grey Lag Geese in the near vicinity revealed a single Barnacle Goose this morning. I like Barnacle Geese - small and tidy looking! A scan of the Mere didn't reveal any Little Gulls or interesting Grebes. A Common Tern seemed to be the only tern present. Tufted Ducks and a few Pochard accounted for most of the wildfowl at this end of the Mere. Turning around, I found the long-staying 2cy Iceland Gull only yards from my car. It must have come in from the sea, as there were few gulls on the water and it joined a couple of Herring Gulls. Still an amazing sighting for mid-June! With the air temperature warming up, I noticed Buzzards in the distance and a female Marsh Harrier flying over the trees to my right. Soon the first Hobby came into view, followed by a second one. The sky was clear and the Hobbies were not only a long way off, but flying very high too. Those are my excuses for some rubbish photos but hopefully they go some way to demonstrate the amazing skill these Hobbies have, in snatching prey from the air. At one time, I had three in the air together and it was certainly a rewarding experience, watching them twist and turn in the sky over the Mere. Adult Hobby. Awful shot but 'prey' in top left corner. Got it!! Going for another one!
Having spent the last two weeks tied up with bungalow alterations, I was desperate to get out this morning and enjoy some countryside. On the drive towards Tophill, the sunshine was slipping away and the Western sky was darkening quickly. Making straight for South Marsh, I knew the recent Great White Egret hadn't been seen yesterday but, there was always a chance it could have returned. On the way I couldn't help notice the colourful array of wild flowers, including orchids which are flourishing either side of the pathway. A Cetti's Warbler was singing, along with 2 Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler. On the marsh, there was no sign of the Great Egret but this Little Egret was next to the hide! Two Avocets were noted and three 1st summer Little Gulls were being pestered by the breeding Black-headed Gulls. The rain had arrived earlier than expected but in the sky over D reservoir, hundreds of Common Swifts were present, accompanied by a smaller number of House Martins and few Sand Martins.
A Common Buzzard flew over, as did a Sparrowhawk and a Cuckoo called at the North end of the reservoir. In D woods, Wrens had fledged, as had Long-tailed Tits and Great Tits. Blackcaps and a Song Thrush were singing, also another Cetti's Warbler here too. With the rain really setting in, and forecast for the remainder of the day, I decided to head back to the car. |
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