Red-footed Falcon at Elmley Marshes

16th September 2025

I have photographed two Red-footed Falcons at Elmley in the past, one on the 6th October 2022 and another on the 18th September 2024 and now a third has appeared on the 14th September, so time for a visit. All three birds were hunting along the same tree-line by the track from the car park to the old school so lets hope that this bird, a 2CY male, is showing well.

The main track up to the car park was exceptionally quiet and the only bird on show was a female Marsh Harrier which was hunting over a reed bed, unfortunately into the sun, but did have the advantage of illuminating the wings and tail.

Once at the car park I went straight to the track on the way to the old school and joined the throng of photographers. It had been seen once earlier in the morning but not for a couple of hours. Luckily a Hobby had been booked as the support act. This is a juvenile as can be seen from the orange trousers and the pale fringes to the wing coverts.

Both Hobbys and Red-footed Falcons feed on dragonflies and the only species flying here today were Migrant Hawkers as shown here, and Common Darters. The Common Darters were very few and far between and were mainly settled on the track whereas the Migrant Hawkers were numerous and feeding around the tree canopy, so these were on the menu today.

It was quite late on in the morning that the falcon became active and gave some great performances along the track, and often perching in the dead trees.

It was obviously feeding very well as quite a few of the photographs showed it with a Migrant Hawker which it ate on the wing.

Also, absolutely amazing how agile Red-footed Falcons are, and certainly wouldn't want to be a dragonfly seeing this coming.

And the most challenging aspect from a photographic point of view is that they are distant once minute and then filling a frame just a few seconds later!!!!!