Air Raid at Frampton

On the evening of 3rd August, after most of the hordes of bird watchers and twitchers had departed, a juvenile peregrine tiercel, colour ringed on its left leg, put on a spectacular show in front of the 360 hide. He made repeated passes that were mostly directed at black-tailed godwits and black-headed gulls. He made three separate hunting sorties, settling on the ground to rest between efforts, before eventually departing to the west. Although dramatic, his repeated attacks were unsuccessful and by the third sortie many of the birds were paying him very little attention - although the waders on the shorelines had made themselves scarce. Throughout the commotion the glossy ibis and the two spoonbills (along with most of the ducks) remained unmoved, although the disturbance finally woke up the spoonbills!

I am assuming that this young bird was one of the Boston brood, and the ring number should confirm that. I will update if I get confirmation.

* Update. That's confirmed. Orange WJ was one of four young peregrines ringed on "Boston Stump" (St Botolph's Church) on 2nd June 2014 by Alan Ball. 

Master of the Skies - But Not Today!

A Black-tailed Godwit Dives Headlong Into the Water to Evade the Young  Tiercel - Which Missed

Black-headed Gulls Stay Close to the Water, Splashing Down if Threatened

Who's a Pretty Boy, Then?

At least two colour ringed black-tailed godwits present today, GW-OYflag again (see earlier post) and BR-OfL, a French-ringed bird. Curiously, both birds stayed close together. Poor record shots, but good enough to confirm the colour combinations. Again, I will update on the "French" bird if/when I receive details.

* Update.

BR-OfL was ringed at Moëze (Charente Maritime), France, on 6th August 2013 as a 1+ year-old.
It was seen at Sainte-Radégonde-des-Noyers in France on 3rd February 2014.
The only other sighting is this one at Frampton on 3rd August 2014, so a fairly short history. Distance travelled - 783km.

GW-OYf has now been seen at Frampton several times since my first report on 23rd July, so here is its updated history.

GW-OYflag   13.07.12        Svafadardalur, road 817, Dalvik, Eyjafjordur, N Iceland (chick)

GW-OYflag   20.08.12        Frodsham Marsh, Cheshire, NW England

GW-OYflag   27.08.12        Carr Lane Pools, Hale near the, Mersey estuary, Cheshire, NW England

GW-OYflag   09.09.12        Frodsham Marsh, Cheshire, NW England

GW-OYflag   15.09.12        Carr Lane Pools, Hale near the, Mersey estuary, Cheshire, NW England

GW-OYflag   22.10.12        Warren Farm, Talacre, Flintshire, NE Wales

GW-OYflag   15.11.12        Warren Farm, Talacre, Flintshire, NE Wales

GW-OYflag   27.11.12        Warren Farm, Talacre, Flintshire, NE Wales

GW-OYflag   03.12.12        Warren Farm, Talacre, Flintshire, NE Wales

GW-OYflag   27.04.13        Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby, Merseyside, NW England

GW-OYflag   28.04.13        Caldy Wildfowl Collection, Caldy, Merseyside, NW England

GW-OYflag   29.04.13        Caldy Wildfowl Collection, Caldy, Merseyside, NW England

GW-OYflag   29.04.13        Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby, Merseyside, NW England

GW-OYflag   30.04.13        Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby, Merseyside, NW England

GW-OYflag   16.09.13        Marshide RSPB Nature Reserve, Southport, Lancashire, NW England

GW-OYflag   23.07.14        Frampton Marsh, the Wash estuary, Lincolnshire, E England

GW-OYflag   30.07.14        Frampton Marsh, the Wash estuary, Lincolnshire, E England

GW-OYflag   1.08.14          Frampton Marsh, the Wash estuary, Lincolnshire, E England

GW-OYflag   3.08.14          Frampton Marsh, the Wash estuary, Lincolnshire, E England

GW-OYflag   3.08.14          Frampton Marsh, the Wash estuary, Lincolnshire, E England

GW-OYflag   8.08.14          Frampton Marsh, the Wash estuary, Lincolnshire, E England

Thanks to Vincent Lelong, Warden at the Réserve Naturelle de Moëze-Oléron for the information.

And finally a couple of portrait shots lit by the warm, low angled evening light. While tracking the lapwing, waiting for the light to catch it's eye, a "birder" asked me "why are you taking pictures of that?" Hmm .. I was probably a bit rude to completely ignore him and carry on - but I had no answer for someone who could not see what I was seeing.

Lapwing, Iridescent in the Evening Light

An Avocet Strides Past, Intent on Feeding