StevieEvans
Well-known member
A Sunny Evening in N.E England
A warm breeze helped lift the Kestrel family up over the pond
They've only been airborn a couple of days, but it was plain to see that these youngsters were ENJOYING themselves. Gliding and calling excitedly as they test their wings and hone the skills that they will come to rely on if they are to survive.
One youngster hovers 10m above the nest site - (an old crow nest overhanging the water about 12m up in an old Crack Willow) - then drops down to join a resting sibling, at the nest.
Around the corner the Mute Swan family have started to move too, only at a more sedate pace. They are resting at a puddle in the middle of a dirt road 100m from the pond! Perhaps theyre on a visit to relatives nearby...? Anyway the Cob has a go as i quickly sqeeze past, its powerful wing just skims my calf.
There are Families everywhere, it appears to have been a good breeding season so far. Others seen with young include Willow tit, Long tail tit, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Goldfinch, Chaffinch.
Nearby a pair of Redshank cause a commotion every time Anything moves! They have four young at the waters edge. Fledged Lapwings rush past with raggy primaries.
The FAVOURITES THOUGH ARE RIGHT ON CUE !
The cock Blackbird scolds and makes a dash away, the male Kestrel shreiks out too.....
Its 20.00 and the adult Long Eared Owl slips out from a line of mature Ash and Crack Willow, and hunts imediately.
It quarters the open rough fields in broad daylight, then melts away into a thorn thicket.
The Leo's have their family here too, and the young dont give their parents a moments rest. Their calls give away their locations- one is well seperated from the others by about 100metres and sits on a dying Elderberry branch. He can fly, buts still has a load of downy plumage! He beats about looking very odd.
These birds have already been led to the field edge by the parents over the last two weeks, from the nest site some 300m away. Parts of which will have been a scramble rather than a flight.
The second adult calls but remains hidden, its sharing this line of a dozen trees with the Kestrels and also a Tawny Owl, so its probably acting as watch dog. Quite appropriate given some of its calls.
Adult one is back with prey and the tone and tempo of the single juv. changes as the Ad. comes in. This youngster is silent for a while now.
The other two become noisier, calling regularly sometimes turning position so it appears the group is larger than is. One makes a noisy move, hidden by scrub, then it flaps out onto a fence post, giving the begging call as it goes. A Tawny was sat on this same post last week but theres no sign tonight.
The elderberry bird flaps along the hedgeline and momentarily startles a Roe Deer
A Grasshopper Warbler gets started with short bursts of reeling - But thats one Family Group i doubt im going to see.....?
A warm breeze helped lift the Kestrel family up over the pond
They've only been airborn a couple of days, but it was plain to see that these youngsters were ENJOYING themselves. Gliding and calling excitedly as they test their wings and hone the skills that they will come to rely on if they are to survive.
One youngster hovers 10m above the nest site - (an old crow nest overhanging the water about 12m up in an old Crack Willow) - then drops down to join a resting sibling, at the nest.
Around the corner the Mute Swan family have started to move too, only at a more sedate pace. They are resting at a puddle in the middle of a dirt road 100m from the pond! Perhaps theyre on a visit to relatives nearby...? Anyway the Cob has a go as i quickly sqeeze past, its powerful wing just skims my calf.
There are Families everywhere, it appears to have been a good breeding season so far. Others seen with young include Willow tit, Long tail tit, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Goldfinch, Chaffinch.
Nearby a pair of Redshank cause a commotion every time Anything moves! They have four young at the waters edge. Fledged Lapwings rush past with raggy primaries.
The FAVOURITES THOUGH ARE RIGHT ON CUE !
The cock Blackbird scolds and makes a dash away, the male Kestrel shreiks out too.....
Its 20.00 and the adult Long Eared Owl slips out from a line of mature Ash and Crack Willow, and hunts imediately.
It quarters the open rough fields in broad daylight, then melts away into a thorn thicket.
The Leo's have their family here too, and the young dont give their parents a moments rest. Their calls give away their locations- one is well seperated from the others by about 100metres and sits on a dying Elderberry branch. He can fly, buts still has a load of downy plumage! He beats about looking very odd.
These birds have already been led to the field edge by the parents over the last two weeks, from the nest site some 300m away. Parts of which will have been a scramble rather than a flight.
The second adult calls but remains hidden, its sharing this line of a dozen trees with the Kestrels and also a Tawny Owl, so its probably acting as watch dog. Quite appropriate given some of its calls.
Adult one is back with prey and the tone and tempo of the single juv. changes as the Ad. comes in. This youngster is silent for a while now.
The other two become noisier, calling regularly sometimes turning position so it appears the group is larger than is. One makes a noisy move, hidden by scrub, then it flaps out onto a fence post, giving the begging call as it goes. A Tawny was sat on this same post last week but theres no sign tonight.
The elderberry bird flaps along the hedgeline and momentarily startles a Roe Deer
A Grasshopper Warbler gets started with short bursts of reeling - But thats one Family Group i doubt im going to see.....?
