A Red-footed Falcon at Elmley

18th September 2024

It was on the 6th October 2022 that I came to Elmley to see and photograph a Red-footed Falcon which performed very well and here is one of my photos. Oddly enough it was in the same area as the bird this year, but on the other side of the tree-line.

Also rather odd was that I wrote on that occasion "It normally takes an hour or so to travel up the entrance track as there is so much to photograph on the way, sometimes just outside the car window, but today the pools and streams on the grassland were bone dry so no water birds. However, one of the drainage ditches remained full and had attracted four or five Cattle Egrets which were intent on feeding and not at all bothered by the metal hide. I wish it was always this easy." And that is exactly what happened today!!!

So back to today and here are the Cattle Egret photos taken from the car.

After a cup of tea in the car park we walked along the track and first saw the falcon about half way to the old school house perched on a post on the far side of the plantation.

It would then taken to the air and hunt for dragonflies before resting up again, this time on a dead tree by the old school house..................

.......................and then on top of a Turkey Oak in the same area.

And finally some flight shots, first against a sky background.........................

...................and then against the Turkey Oaks.

What an absolute performer!!!!!