More Red Kites

Always good to see red kites. Two appeared at the weekend with buzzards near Staple Hill on the Blackdowns - record shots below. One was still present on the morning of the 28th. There has certainly been a large influx from the continent over the last couple of weeks:

Around 30+ crossbills present close by too, including a large number of juvenile birds...

Red Kite over Chard

Just walking my usual patch up over the fields from my house this morning when I glanced up and saw this beautiful Red Kite drifting slowly overhead! First time I've caught up with them around Chard. It drifted off and over the town centre before getting mobbed by a Herring Gull and flying off to the south towards Tatworth.

Great Reed Warbler, Weston-super-mare SW

Record shots of the Great Reed Warbler at Weston sewage works. Poor quality but it was overcast and 6am so hardly surprising...

Woodchat Shrike, Noss Mayo, Devon

Stunning little bird and very confiding for a shrike - viewed down to 10 feet at times. Aged as a 1st summer male - I think it also has traits associated with a female, lots of white around the lores and a greyish back rather than black? Does have quite a bright head though, so maybe it is a male...

White Stork, Curry Moor

Distant record shots of the white stork on Curry Moor near Taunton. As I watched it, it took off and flew towards me before circling high and out of sight.

Axemouth, 5th May 2012

Not much on the river at low tide today but an obliging whimbrel provided enough distraction to keep me happy.

There were also a handful of grey plover and some black and bar-tailed godwits - some in stunning summer plumage.