Microbirdology

The Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) is a small raptor primarily found in eastern Europe and Asia, but occasionally sighted in the UK as a rare vagrant. These falcons are characterized by their distinctive red legs and feet, with males having slate-grey plumage and females sporting a blue-grey back with a rusty orange underside. In the UK, the Red-footed Falcon is an uncommon visitor, often spotted during spring and autumn migration periods. Their appearances are sporadic and generally involve single individuals rather than flocks. The estimated number of Red-footed Falcons observed in the UK annually ranges from a handful to about 20 sightings per year, depending on migration patterns and weather conditions that might bring them into British airspace. Up to three have been reported on Worth Marsh in May, so it was well worth an early morning visit for a chance to see one, or more, of these birds for the third time. My first was also on Worth Marsh, with the Elenora's Falcon...

The Purple Heron ( Ardea purpurea ) is a striking wading bird occasionally seen in the UK, though it's considered a rare visitor rather than a permanent resident. Characterized by its reddish-brown plumage and slender body, it's slimmer and darker than the more common Grey Heron. The species prefers warmer climates, typically breeding in wetlands across southern Europe, Africa, and Asia. In the UK, it is mainly a passage migrant, sometimes seen in the southern and eastern regions, particularly around large reed beds. Their numbers vary annually and they are considered as 'occaisional' breeders in the UK. In early May, two Purple Heron arrived at Stodmarsh and a third was seen on Worth Marshes. These are pictures of a Stodmarsh bird, taken several days apart.

We had a lovely short break in a hotel near Holt at the end of April. The weather was not kind, wet and with a bitter wind from the North but we enjoyed ourselves nevertheless. Weeting Heath We stopped at Weeting Heath NNR on the way up and the way back to watch the Stone Curlews (a first for us). We had good views on both visits, spotting 5 birds on the way and 6 on the way back.  They had a well sighted webcam on one nest and the birds swapped incubation duties regularly. The Stone-curlew ( Burhinus oedicnemus ), also known as the Eurasian Thick-knee, is a distinctive, nocturnal wader found in the UK, particularly on dry, open grasslands and heathlands. With its large, yellow eyes, upright stance, and cryptic plumage, it blends well into its arid habitat, feeding primarily on insects and small invertebrates. In the UK, its breeding range is mainly confined to the southern and eastern regions of England, with conservation efforts helping to stabilize its population. Currently, th...