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Elmley, early Sept 2024

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Brief but close views of a Bittern at Elmley, plus Cattle Egret, Whinchat and even a slightly distant Kingfisher from the drive to the car park Whinchat The Whinchat ( Saxicola rubetra ) is a small, migratory passerine bird found in the UK, favoring open habitats such as upland meadows, heathlands, and grasslands with scattered shrubs during the breeding season. The Whinchat is often spotted perched on low shrubs or tall plants, using elevated viewpoints to catch insects. In the UK, the breeding population of Whinchats is estimated to be around 47,000 pairs. This species is a long-distance migrant, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa, with individuals departing the UK in late summer and returning in spring to breed.  Cattle Egret The Cattle Egret ( Bubulcus ibis ) is a white heron increasingly seen in the UK, primarily in wetland areas, farmland, and around grazing livestock, with which it has a close ecological relationship. Distinguished by its compact size, yellow bill, and in breeding
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Falconry at Belmont, end August 2024

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I spend a pleasant couple of hours with a few birds from the Joe Bows Falconry centre at Belmont House, which is only a few miles from our house. It was a photograph session, but I was the only one booked in, or at least the only one who turned up! The birds were handled and displayed by Joe Raines and Megan, so my thanks to them for the evening.  The weather was not the best with cloud cover regularly pushing ISO's up to 12.5k and upwards. Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia (Burrowing Owl) is a small, ground-dwelling owl native to the Americas, recognized for its long legs, bright yellow eyes, and distinctive white “eyebrows.” Unlike most owls, burrowing owls are active during the day, particularly at dawn and dusk, and they inhabit open landscapes such as grasslands, deserts, and agricultural areas. They often take over burrows made by mammals like prairie dogs for nesting and shelter. The global population of burrowing owls is estimated to be between 2 to 3 million birds.  Melani
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Kestrels on Sheppey, August 2024

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A few Kestrel pictures from Elmley and Capel Fleet in mid August 2024.  The UK population of kestrels is thought to be around 31,000 breeding pairs. However, this number has been in decline due to habitat loss and changes in farming practices, which have affected their food supply.
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Favourite pictures from July and August 2024

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  Grey Heron at Oare Female Linnet at Oare Male Linnet at Oare Whimbrel at Oare Osprey at Rutland Water Osprey with fish at Rutland Water Juvenile Cuckoo at Lyndon NR Maya, 1R0 and 33 at Rutland Sedge Warbler at Elmley Spotted Flycatcher, Doddington Bittern at Elmley Buzzard at Elmley Cattle Egret at Elmley
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