howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
dover bird life photographer phil smith has returned from a trip to south west spain and kindly consented to his photos being shown here.
three for starters.
the booted eagle.
hoopoe
lesser kestrel.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
the short toed eagle.
my favourite so far - the white stork.
the nightingale.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
here we have the black winged stilt.
the delightful but unfortunately named collared pratincole.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Great pictures.
They would make fantastic stamp motifs, a set of Spanish postage stamps with birds.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Lovely birds and photos, thanks Howard - and Phil.
Roger
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Is it my imagination or do we see many more birds of prey around East Kent than we used to? In recent years I have seen a peregrine in the garden at Blakes, a red kite beside the A256 at Barville farm, buzzards in the fields along Westcourt Downs, and just the other day a kestrel hovering near the Plough at Hougham.
Recently an incident on the M40 caused us to take a detour through the Chiltern countryside and we saw more than 20 kites in mass formation over a field in the village of Bledlow. Amazing sight.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 756- Registered: 6 Jun 2012
- Posts: 727
I took my little dog for a walk along the Shepherswell Firs earlier this week and was startled by a commotion in the trees ahead. A Buzzard came swooping out of the firs and proceeded to chase the dog! I think he thought she was a rabbit, can only guess they are nesting somewhere close by.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i will pass those comments on to our twitchers and see if they have comments to make, encouraging if they are going through a renaissance.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
The other day I was told a kestrel tried to catch a sparrow that was making his way into a hedge that is only a couple of doors away from me.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 756- Registered: 6 Jun 2012
- Posts: 727
I think I said on another thread that Tiny Ritches from Many Hoots Owl Sanctury regularly releases birds of prey back into the wild. He is always happy to help out if you find a sick or injured bird.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
read on here before about a kestrel eating a sparrow in a garden, it was either jeane or kath.
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
It was me, and it ate a blackbird, Howard.
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i was fairly close kath .
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
2 more from phil - firstly the spoon bill.
rather topical today - the bee eater.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
3 more from phil's trip first the yellow wagtail.
the purple heron.
2 woodchat shrikes mating, no sniggering please.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
2 to finish - the azure winged magpie.
night herons at dusk.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
some of the scenery in this corner of south west spain is as stunning as the birds.
