Red Footed Falcon

19th May 2025.An small influx of Red Footed Falcons were in West Cornwall in May with a few birds being present on the Lizard peninsula and the Lands end area, saw somw excellent photos on the socials but unable to go down, and didn't worry too much about it as I'd seen and photographed them on their breeding sites in Hungary, but in the end I had to go down to Nanquidno to have a look for them. One of the birds( a first summer male) was sitting in a newly ploughed field,not doing much, but catching the occasional prey item on the ground. Then a tractor came into the field and started to turn the soil, so I knew the Falcon would have to take flight when it got near. Glad I made the effort.

Ham Wall.

Joyce and I spent a few days in the Glastonbury area back in May, so a day at Ham wall on the Somerset levels was always going to be on the cards. A hot sunny day with the most noticeable wildlife seen were the hundreds and hundreds of Dragonflies, ( mostly four spot chasers ) with a few Scarce Chasers thrown in as well as lots of Damsels, Azure, Blue Tailed and Demioselles.Searched without luck for Hairy Dragonfly so maybe another day for these.

Lots of Butterflies around as well, tried to chase this pair of scruffy Brimstones chasing each other.

, and a Grren Veined White.

Fairly quiet on the bird front, but a few high flying Hobbies, a surprise flyover White Stork, some always nice to see Marsh Harriers, and Great Egrets and also photographed Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe,Pochard and a young Moorhen.

Large Red Damselfly emergence.

My small garden pond has attracted lots of Dragon and Damselflies and I was pleased to see a number of Large Red Damsels emerging from their excuvia, most were among the vegatation but this one was right on the outer leaves of the Brooklime and I was able to lie down and get some close up photos. Not sure how this one individual might have fared as its wings appeared slightly bent, hpefully it was o.k and flew away. These creatures never fail to fascinate me.

Dartmoor Redstarts

A trip in April to Emsworthy mire on Dartmoor with friends to look for some of our avian summer visitors, a few Cuckoos were around but always a bit distant for any photos ( still not got a decent photo of a Cuckoo),but the stars for the day were the Redstarts with seemingly good numbers having already started to set up territory and start nest building. The male really is a very smart bird and they were in good voice as the female went about collecting nesting material.