The RSPB Reserve at Lakenheath, Suffolk has held a superb adult male Red-footed Falcon for some three weeks. I've never seen an adult male in Britain before and as the bird appears to be summering and there are allways good birds to be had at Lakenheath, a visit was necessary.
We arrived at around 08:30am on Sunday 26th May 2013 and missed the singing Savi's Warbler by 20 minutes. But the Red-footed Falcon was showing well and soon took to the air and performed over the Fens for the rest of the day. There were at least 30 Hobby feeding over the main fen during the day and at least 10 Marsh Harrier. Many Reed and Sedge Warbler, a single Grasshopper Warbler showed well, numerous Whitethroat & Blackcap and several singing Cetti's Warbler. In the afternoon we eventually heard and saw 2 Common Crane, several Bittern were "Booming" on and off during the day. A single male Golden Oriole singing and showed very briefly as it flew through the poplar plantation.
However at 09:55hrs, I was standing at the farthest watchpoint, Joist Fen Hide and heard a familiar call, a Bee-eater. I called out the bird and fortunately Barrie & several other people also heard it but couldn't put a name to it. The bird was obviously high up, wasn't seen and was heading towards the visitor centre, we estimated in an ENE direction. Coincidentally, a Bee-eater turned up briefly at Salthouse, Norfolk around 1600hrs. Maybe the same bird..
Some good plants and other insects were seen including, Water Violet, Celery-leaved Buttercup, Dove's-foot Cranesbill, Common Storksbill and Hairy Dragonfly. Plenty of male Orange-tip butterfly were on the wing.
During the day we also paid a visit to the Norfolk Wildlife Trust Reserve at Weeting Heath, where we had Stone Curlew and Spotted Flycacther. Also the first record for the year for the reserve at Wheeting of Green Hairstreak butterfly. The year list has moved on to 195
Lakenheath Fen, Suffolk – Tony Davison©
Adult male Red-footed Falcon roosting – Lakenheath Fen – Tony Davison©
Above 10 images – Adult male Red-footed Falcon – Lakenheath – Tony Davison©
Adult Hobby – note the "Brick-red" trousers and undertail coverts – Lakenheath Fen – Tony Davison©
Adult Mute Swan – Lakenheath Fen – Tony Davison©
The flowers are Common Storksbill, the two pale leaves in the foreground are Dovesfoot Cranesbill – Lakenheath – Tony Davison©
Water Violet – Lakenheath Fen – Tony Davison©
Above two images – Celery-leaved Buttercup – Lakenheath Fen Tony Davison©
Terrific shots Tony, looks like you had a good day. Excellent skills to get the Bee-eater, nice one!