Flying Kites.

May 10, 2024May 10, 2024 / Andy Finnegan / 4 Comments

By the early 20th Century due to persecution numbers of Red Kites’ were reduced to just a handful confined to the uplands of mid-Wales. When I was a teenager there were said to be about 25 pairs. With conservation work, their numbers started to build in the 1980’s. Today they are seen as a conservation success. The RSPB website gives the numbers in the UK of 4600 breeding pairs. I have even seen this beautiful bird over the outskirts of Southampton

In Mid Wales there are several Red Kite feeding stations We visited one while away this week.

This post is photo heavy !

wingspan: 155-180 cm Length: 60-65 cm Weight: 750-1,300 g

This Heron thought he would steal some of the Kites’ food!

City Parks.

May 5, 2024May 5, 2024 / Andy Finnegan / Leave a comment

Sunday morning walk through some of Southampton’s city centre’s open spaces.

Another Cuckoo.

May 3, 2024May 3, 2024 / Andy Finnegan / 11 Comments

Today I got a closer view of a Cuckoo while walking in the New Forest.

Below is a link to the Cuckoo post of the bird I saw last week.

Cuckoo.

One in-flight – I missed myself photographed by my brother Simon.

Reed Warbler.

May 2, 2024 / Andy Finnegan / Leave a comment

Reed Warbler Titchfield Haven.

Avocets.

April 30, 2024 / Andy Finnegan / 8 Comments

Like clock-work.

April 27, 2024 / Andy Finnegan / Leave a comment

Sanderlings have a distinctive run/walk this is partly due to only having 3 toes on each foot, they are missing the hind toe. They run like wind-up little clockwork toys.

Coot family.

April 27, 2024April 27, 2024 / Andy Finnegan / 8 Comments

Sedge Warbler.

April 25, 2024April 25, 2024 / Andy Finnegan / Leave a comment

In summer, the Sedge Warbler a medium-sized warbler can be found in marshes, reedbeds and wetlands. they can be spotted singing from reeds or willow trees often perched high up. It is said that males never sing the same song twice, adding new phrases to impress females.