Friday, October 07, 2011

Sandhill.......

Male Migrant Hawker.
With the kind offer of a lift from Neil to go and see the adult Sandhill Crane that has been touring the UK,myself Graham and Neil made the long journey to coastal Suffolk.As we arrived,eventually finding the village hall car park,we made the walk to the birds chosen fields were it had been feeding.Within half an hour we were watching this magnificent,elegant species as it fed in some harvested fields,at first at long range,but later showing very nicely through the scope.It was quite inactive at times,feeding in one area,but was also heard to call on numerous occasions and was also seen in flight.The local species were quite interested in their overseas visitor and a comical encounter with a Brown Hare was an interesting piece of behaviour to watch,as neither the Crane nor the Hare new what to make of each other.This is the first record of the species for myself and is the first to be recorded in England,with the remainder of a handfull of records coming from Ireland and the Northern Isles.Other birds observed through the day included a 2nd winter Med.Gull,4 Wheatear,5 Marsh Harrier,2 Common Buzzard,a singing male Cetti's Warbler and a cracking adult Hobby,with an escaped juv. Bald Eagle being seen also!.Insect sightings comprised of hundreds of Harlequin Ladybirds,about 10 Migrant Hawker and 20 Common Darter and a handfull of Red Admirals.A long,but enjoyable day.

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