The Eleonora`s Falcon at Worth Marsh, near Sandwich, Kent. 28/5/2022
When the news broke on Friday morning that an Eleonora`s Falcon had been seen in Kent and also knowing that this species was so rare, I had to go for it. This species has been seen only 7 times and had always been a One day bird. As I tried to get a team together to visit the area and see this ultra-rare falcon my whole squadron of twitcher mates seemed to be doing something else! One mate, Rob D from Huddersfield, responded positively and plans were drawn up early Friday evening.
Rising from my bed at 4-30am and meeting Rob around 5-30am brought back lots of memories of rarity chasing. We headed south down the A1 on a nice morning and made good progress without stopping along the way. News that the Eleonora`s Falcon was still present certainly didnt slow us down as we made our way onto the M25/M2 arriving at Worth by 10-15am. Staff from a nearby RSPB reserve directed us to the area and as we parked up around 200 cars were parked in a field. We dashed along the small tracks for about half a mile and arrived at Pinnock Wall, its just a track really. Lots of birders were watching something perched in a distant tree, was it the Eleonora`s Falcon? It sure was, but the heat haze made it a little difficult to properly identify. Eventually the bird was watched for about 2 hours as it flew so gracefully around the front and above The Great Wood It came to about 50 yards away at one time and we could only marvel at its speed and ability to perform such great acrobatics as it pursued dragonflies to eat. It was also seen pulling the wings of a dragonfly in mid-air then swallowing the insect. A truly magnificent falcon to observe being midsize between a Peregrine Falcon and European Hobby. This species winters in Madagascar and heads north to breed in the Mediterranean but this bird was identified as a first summer male, so it must have got lost? It was also seen flying alongside a European Hobby also catching dragonflies, a female Red footed Falcon was also seen as it patiently waited to catch prey items from its perch. It was difficult to drag ourselves away from the falcon, but other matters had to be attended to.
Many thanks to Rob D for his tireless driving ability, shame about a Sardinian Warbler though!
Early morning visit to the south bank of the Thames. Birds of included... - Turnstone 14 - Redshank 20+ - Lapwing 5 - Common Tern 1 (with Black-headed Gulls) - Black Swan 1 - Cormorant 4 - Common Buzzard 1 - Red Kite 1 being mobbed by Carrion Crows over the M25 - Raven 1 over
A late morning journey took myself and Alex Jones to successfully twitch the Dusky Thrush in Kent.
After arriving around 3.30pm at Margate Cemetery, the bird was very mobile flying between the various scattered trees in the grounds, but in the end, the long trip was made all the worthwhile as it posed for the assembled crowd on a Pine Tree branch where we had really good and prolonged views.
A fabulous bird to see in the UK and well worth the 270 mile journey!
Also of interest 2 Ring-necked Parakeets.
From there we headed over to Shorne Marshes RSPB where the reported Cattle Egret showed well out on the fields amongst the cattle.
Also present:
2 Cuckoos (at one point seen together having a territorial fight) 1 Nightingale 1 Cetti's Warbler 1 Little Egret amongst others
Simon, your reply on 17 th had gaps/spaces between points, how is this done? I can only get everything I type to come out as one big(or small) paragraph. eg you have your reply, then gap, then a line below it, then your name. I know Im probably being stupid but I cant work out how to do this
HELP, this is not a birding question but I feel totally computer useless and need help. How do I do replies with paragraphs etc, I cant work it out. Anybody out there prapared to help me ???.
Just returned from weekend in Kent , thanks to Simons advice had an excellent 2 Hours at Cliffe Pools RSPB on Saturday morning. Friday night on way down, M6, M6 toll, M1,M25 saw just 3 kestrels surprised to see a buzzard on M6 toll near Birmingham though. Sat morning parked by church at Cliffe lots of house martins flying around then walked down track to the pools. Heard but did not see my first nightingale ( I checked song on DVD Birds of Europe when I got home), other birds seen included; hobby, little egrets, whitethroat(lots), blackcaps, sedge warbler, heron, 3 pochards, great spotted woodpecker, oystercatcher, shelduck, pluss many finches, tits, thrushes etc. A fantastic place alive with birds and I would love to have spent longer there. On way home today came up M40 and saw 19 red kites, 8 in the air together above junction 5 what a fantastic stretch of motorway for a birdwatcher. Once again thanks Simon. Cheers Ian
E B R Thanks for the info but I dont think lovely wife will allow visits to so many places.Thanks again for spending time to give me advice. Cheers Ian
Simon, Many thanks for advice ,going with nonbirding lovely wife so can only visit one site without major threats, I might have to go shopping!!! ,it looks like Cliffe, report next week on sightings. Cheers Ian
Can Anyone Help Me ? Next weekend Im visiting Maidstone for a birthday party and Im thinking ideal opportunity for a spot of birding. Trouble is I dont know where to go.I could play safe and visit an RSPB site but I just wondered if anyone out there knows of a site I really should not miss out on. Any advice gratefully received.
