Red-footed Falcon in Staffs

I haven't done very much serious birding at all in the last few weeks. Typically its a quiet time of year for birds anyway (apart from the various national 'Mega's that have turned up this June and July!) and I've had loads on with the family. I have to admit I haven't even been keeping an eye one the twitter feeds so have been quite unaware of some of the better local birds. So, when a friend text me yesterday to see if I wanted to go for the Red-footed Falcon in Staffs I was a bit taken aback as I didn't even know there was one around. I was also slightly miffed as I had a day out planned with the family which I couldn't get out of.

Red-footed Falcons are stunning little birds, perhaps my favourite Falcon so I wasn't going to miss the opportunity to see one that was literally an hour away, I just had to go for it on Sunday (today) instead. Twitter confirmed the bird was still present at around 09.00 and I was on the road just after 10.00am. My Sat Nav was playing stupid games and after initially struggling to get it to work, it then sent me off at the wrong exit on at least three roundabouts. Thankfully nothing that caused any problems, but enough 'diversions' to get my temperature up! Anyway I arrived just after 11.00am and the number of cars confirmed the bird was probably still present, and sure enough after a 2 minute walk there it was. Hardly the most salubrious of locations, but an absolute cracking bird.

The bird showed really well all the time I was there, even coming to within a few feet at one point. The photo's above are phonescoped as the camera shots were just a bit distant. These were hand held and the light wasn't great either. Even so I'm quite pleased with the results.

A great bird for the year. Would love to find one on my own patch.