My birding day was yesterday, and it was only an afternoon, but we had lots of fun, despite the overall low species count.
G had driven around some of the low-lying parts of our local Patch, the Val d'Orcia in southern Tuscany, in the morning, and had seen red-footed falcons, lesser kestrels and rollers among other things. So after lunch, thanks to a babysitting offer, which we took up immediately, we set off to see if they were still around.
The weather on the previous day had been terrible (not to mention unseasonal), with gale-force winds, heavy rain, sleet and snow above 1200 m and G was a bit worried about the few pairs of Bee-eaters who nest not far from us, as he had not seen them in the morning.
On the way to the nesting site we saw a buzzard and the first red-footed falcon of the afternoon, a 1st summer male, perched on a wire. But there were no Bee-eaters in sight, nor the pair of Stone-curlews which we had seen a few days earlier. We drove on past a male Red-backed shrike perching on top of its usual bush. We spent the rest of the afternoon driving up and down the same stretch of A road and a couple of nearby dirt lanes, chasing the red-footed falcons and the lesser kestrels which were feeding on the adjoining fields. Overall, we saw at least three lesser kestrels (2 females and one 1st summer male) and three red-footed falcons (1 female and 2 1st summer males), the latter presumably on migration, while the lesser kestrels will have to be monitored as this species is expanding and there are a few breeding pairs halfway between here and Rome - you never know!. It was a fantastic show, with the falcons hovering in the strong wind and swooping down to catch prey continuously, then moving to next field and starting all over again.
We also saw two pairs of Roller, one of which may be nesting in a ruined farmhouse, while the other pair was presumably just passing.
A Peregrine flew past very close to us and then disappeared behind the next hill, while Great Reed warblers sang by a nearby pond.
As dinner time was approaching fast we reluctantly left the falcons' show to head back towards home. On the way we stopped at the Bee-eaters' site, but again none were in sight, just a distant male Wheatear and a hovering Short-toed eagle high up, plus the usual Red-backed shrike.
All in all a very nice birding afternoon and the worries about the Bee-eaters' disappearance were put to rest this afternoon, as G went to check on them and they were back. Phew!
G had driven around some of the low-lying parts of our local Patch, the Val d'Orcia in southern Tuscany, in the morning, and had seen red-footed falcons, lesser kestrels and rollers among other things. So after lunch, thanks to a babysitting offer, which we took up immediately, we set off to see if they were still around.
The weather on the previous day had been terrible (not to mention unseasonal), with gale-force winds, heavy rain, sleet and snow above 1200 m and G was a bit worried about the few pairs of Bee-eaters who nest not far from us, as he had not seen them in the morning.
On the way to the nesting site we saw a buzzard and the first red-footed falcon of the afternoon, a 1st summer male, perched on a wire. But there were no Bee-eaters in sight, nor the pair of Stone-curlews which we had seen a few days earlier. We drove on past a male Red-backed shrike perching on top of its usual bush. We spent the rest of the afternoon driving up and down the same stretch of A road and a couple of nearby dirt lanes, chasing the red-footed falcons and the lesser kestrels which were feeding on the adjoining fields. Overall, we saw at least three lesser kestrels (2 females and one 1st summer male) and three red-footed falcons (1 female and 2 1st summer males), the latter presumably on migration, while the lesser kestrels will have to be monitored as this species is expanding and there are a few breeding pairs halfway between here and Rome - you never know!. It was a fantastic show, with the falcons hovering in the strong wind and swooping down to catch prey continuously, then moving to next field and starting all over again.
We also saw two pairs of Roller, one of which may be nesting in a ruined farmhouse, while the other pair was presumably just passing.
A Peregrine flew past very close to us and then disappeared behind the next hill, while Great Reed warblers sang by a nearby pond.
As dinner time was approaching fast we reluctantly left the falcons' show to head back towards home. On the way we stopped at the Bee-eaters' site, but again none were in sight, just a distant male Wheatear and a hovering Short-toed eagle high up, plus the usual Red-backed shrike.
All in all a very nice birding afternoon and the worries about the Bee-eaters' disappearance were put to rest this afternoon, as G went to check on them and they were back. Phew!
