Surprise Garden Visitor
- 9 January 2012 11:31146328I looked out of the kitchen window yesterday afternoon and was amazed to see a Peregrine Falcon taking a drink at the bird bath, the cat looked gobsmacked and watched from a safe distance. By the time I got the camera for a photo opportunity it had taken flight, a beautiful bird
- Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
9 January 2012 11:34146329you lucky chap you.
- 9 January 2012 12:56146345I was sat in my kitchen some years ago gazing through the Juliet Balcony at the garden when I saw what I thought to be a Harris Tweed Sports Jacket thrown down amongst blooms, but no 'twas a falcon from the nearby church's Quasimodian heights. In search of and finding a rat. The poor bird was lumbering about seeking some point of elevation in order to take off, good old bird bath.
[the church has since been flood-lit and the birds are no more]
But they sure are most impressive Barry.Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing. - 9 January 2012 13:00146346saw a brace of pheasants yesterday in the field next to the plough folkestone side.
was on a bus so no chance of getting my gun (sorry i meant camera) out and take a shot.
an hour and a half later when coming back they were still there. - 9 January 2012 13:23146354Often see pheasants walking through garden....only permitted to pick up camera...most of my family are vegetarian.
Also Herons but would love to see a peregrine falcon. - 9 January 2012 14:28146358Not the best of photos but was lucky to see 3 or 4 at the same time a couple of years back on the cliffs
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[IMAGE]/df-imported/forum-images/225-1326115729.jpeg[/IMAGE]Been nice knowing you :) - 9 January 2012 15:38146367Gosh Barry W-S that must have been a sight in the garden
Beautiful birds there Paul. - 9 January 2012 17:27146395Superb flight shot.
- 9 January 2012 17:50146403indeed it looks like in that pic he has just decided what he is going to have for lunch.
- 9 January 2012 18:11146411I had an interesting email in from Pat at Castle-Lea via Howard this morning, saying that Falcons were introduced at the castle a couple of years ago to control the seagulls.
They have regular of visits by them and last year there was a spectacular "dog-fight" with about four falcons in aerial combat with seagulls taking place, shades of the Battle of Britain.
The falcons are breeding well at the castle and now it seems they are extending their territory.
Pat also mentions they have a Jay making regular visits as well, I wonder if it is the same one that has been visiting our garden over the past year?
Many thanks for your information Pat - 9 January 2012 18:51146424This is where my photos were taken - I don't think they were introduced but from a thriving population along the cliffs.
The sounds is unmistakable at the Castle, but I think quite often it is the seagulls hounding the falcons, and above they had a pigeon for lunch
Been nice knowing you :) - 12 January 2012 15:47146894Speaking of large birds, I spotted this: http://www.canterbury.gov.uk/main.cfm?objectid=7403&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
- Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
12 January 2012 15:54146897While on the subject of birds on Breakfast this morning they were saying a rare visiting Spanish Sparrow might have been mating with the local sparrows, naughty boy.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 12 January 2012 16:58146920Fascinating stuff above.
This is a picture I took and showed it on here a year or two back..as a study of the bird itself its no good at all, but its a keepsake as the bird landed right on my window sill and gave me a heck of a shock to see something so big. I quietly got hold of the camera making no sudden moves but it was the camera I use to take the pix in the channel and it was preset on long distance, before i could change the dials my exciting visitor was gone. He looked exhausted and appeared to be taking a rest. Ian said at the time that it looked like a Falcon as i remember.
Lovely pictures there again above from our ace man Paul Scotchie Wells.email: dover7@msn.com
