Had a quick trip round the area today and managed to see 7 different birds of prey!

Started off right by the gate with a lone Red Kite, was at a bit of a distance so not a great shot, but clearly a Red Kite.

Moved on into the area and strangely saw a small flock of what appeared to be Black Headed Gulls.  I say that because I am not good at gulls, and these ones have black heads.  Having said that they also appear to have black beaks and I thought BHGs had red beaks.

 

The more eagle eyed amongst you may notice that the bird on the right of the photo is different to the others.  Is it a juvenile?  See pic below.

Anyway, back to the Birds of Prey, next up were two Buzzards:

I was quite pleased with those pictures!

Next one I saw was a Barn Owl but it was in and out of vision too quick for me to get a picture.  I then noticed that the farmers had been round cutting a lot of the grass in the meadows.  I wondered if this was why the meat eaters were around, imagining that there may be exposed or dead mammals around where the cutting had happened.

Next up was a Kestrel which hovered briefly then pounced on something and flew off with it.

 

A bit later on I managed to get a Kite and a Kestrel in the same shot.

 

It wasn’t only birds of prey though, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits were loud, proud and plentiful!

 

On the way back I managed another sighting of the Red Kite

 

As i was locking the gate behind me there was a Sparrowhawk sat on the fence but of course my camera was in the car!

Last of the Birds of prey were my favourite Little Owls who were being a little shy today!

 

 

Not a bad little trip, off to Marston now!