Ouse Washes - 2 May 2013

Bright blue skies with  a few cirrus clouds and easterlies coming from a fair way east which brought in

Red-footed Falcons (3)

Leaving Churchmans hide at 11.45 a scan across the Bishopsland meadow to the west revealed a male Red-footed Falcon hunting over the wet 'troughs', walking north to get closer views the falcon appeared to have doubled back and was over the pond near the Ship Inn. I  phoned the news in as an adult or near adult male since I was certain that I had seen some pale in the lower belly.

The adult male which showed reasonably well had the requisite brick red thighs, vent and undertail coverts and silvery outer upper wings (stunning!)  but I was pretty certain that there was a second male with a paler patch at the lower belly presumably a fourth calendar year bird (i.e. near adult) and this was proven to be the case with views of a distant male which was presumably this bird whilst the adult male was still in view at the southern end of Bishopsland. 

The birds were never really close and quite wary though typically perched between frequent high wheeling hunting sorties I decided to try the road near the Ship Inn which seemed a favored spot being sheltered from the easterlies and spent 45 minutes scanning but only managed distant views of the two males when a full adult female came into my scope view with the adult male and both were watched for a few minutes before disappearing across the bank and into the Washes. 

The birds were feeding avidly so were presumably very recently arrived. 
Poscript: interestingly having looked closely at some excellent photographs of the male at Lakenheath, Suffolk on 3 May this has somewhat paler red thighs and lower belly with more yellow pigment presumably this was the second male which appeared at a distance to have a paler lower belly and thighs.  

Otherwise:
4 Garganey (south end Common wash Hide), 1 Whooper Swan (presumably ill), 4 Pintail, c 40 Little Egrets, c40 Black-tailed Godwits mostly race limosa, 26 + Ruff, c. 40 Redshank, 24 + Avocets, 1 cream crown Marsh Harrier, 1 second calendar year Mediterranean Gull, 5 Wheatears, 1 Whinchat and c 25 Yellow Wagtails. 

Adult male Red-footed Falcon - Ouse Washes

Adult male Red-footed Falcon heading towards the Washes past the distinctive aqua wires 

same bird showing the diagnostic silvery outer upperwings