Peregrine Pair

Last weekend in Barnes I was lucky to encounter a pair of Peregrines taking flight across the main lake.  Although I see these on a regular basis this was the best view I have experienced of these superb falcons. I suspect they had just fed as their flight was very slow; there was no menacing intent to their presence, which all the other birds seemed to sense.  Only the Lapwings took to the air while the ducks and gulls were only slightly perturbed by their appearance.

The pair briefly settled on one of the islands, showing the size difference between male (left) and female:

One of the Lapwings which took flight:

Black-headed Gulls feeding:

Spurn Point, Where Even the Lighthouse Is Ringed

I had hoped to squeeze in a visit to Spurn Point this year, and just managed to get there for the last weekend in October.

I hadn't been to Spurn for a long time, and it has hardly changed at all.  The old lighthouse is still a terrific building:

I headed down to the point early in the day.  It was fairly quiet, with the exception of a good number of Fieldfare heading south.  Most continued on down the point and out over the Humber estuary towards Lincolnshire. 

A pair of Sparrowhawks were present at the Point, clearly taking advantage of some weary migrants such as this female Blackbird which would have made an easy catch:

As with a lot of birds present, the Sparrowhawks were ringed too!:

Back up at Kilnsea a Pallas's Warbler couldn't be located, but whilst looking in the Churchyard I came across a Firecrest.  It was seen on and off throughout the day.  One of the most difficult birds to photograph, these speedy things never stop moving:

Later in the day it was refound along the road, when it suddenly dropped down behind the hedge at the Villa.  It had dropped straight into a mist net and was soon pulled out for ringing:

The smallest British bird, its tiny size was particularly evident in the hand:

A nice Lesser Redpoll also found its way into the nets:

Thanks to the ringers for showing the birds before release.