Falcon at Fen Drayton

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Following a tip off I made my way to Fen Drayton lakes this morning at 830 in the hope of seeing a red footed falcon that had been seen there for the past few days.  I parked up and walked along beside the guided busway to where it had been seen perching on the different posts around a field of sheep.  I was soon joined by other birders with the same mission and we stood in small groups scanning the field with binoculars,  nothing!!   After about 30 mins I wondered whether to make my way back but thought I had better just enquire of the other birders whether they had found it -- yes they had and pointed it out in the distance perching on on of the fence posts- I had been scanning the skies to see if it flew down but I think it must have been on the ground and flown up! I was pleased my outing hadnt been in vain and managed to take a very zoomed in photo but enough to show it was the right bird.

Walking back to the car I heard purring of a turtle dove and stared through my binoculars to where the sound was coming from, I could just make out a dove shaped bird and took a photo, the purring stopped as soon as it flew off so I guessed it was the turtle dove and looking at the photos afterwards, I could see that indeed it was though again very  blurry zoomed in photos.

There was quite a lot of singing birds around and I did manage a picture of a vocal reed bunting.

Another two ticks for this years list acheived but unfortunately the weather wasnt really suitable for photos as a bit misty and dull.



red footed falcon  - juvenile female
 

 reed bunting
 turtle dove - very distant

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