Lakenheath & Lackford ................................................Gi Grieco

Lakenheath & Lackford

19th May 2013

Leader: Gi Grieco & Dave Pearsons

A good turnout of eighteen members including two new ones, Neal and Pauline, convened at Hockwold Wash lookout for the annual visit to the great RSPB reserve at Lakenheath. With the weather warm and sunny, some had been over cautious with the waterproof clothing, although reports all week had forecast wind and rain.

Heading along the track to New Fen, several Reed and Sedge Warblers were singing with the occasional Reed Bunting, Cetti’s Warbler and Whitethroat joining in and the first of a few Cuckoos around the site were heard too. Past the first plantation with a couple of Garden Warblers present, some insect interest from both male and female Orange-tip, a Peacock and a couple of Large Red Damselflies, although insect numbers seemed generally low. One of the main targets for the day was a male Red-footed Falcon, a rare raptor from Eastern Europe. It had been at the reserve for the last two weeks, so we were relieved when news reached us that it was still present and showing well. From the lookout at New Fen, after initially seeing our first Hobby of the day, the Red-footed Falcon flew into view, at times flying close by and overhead. A fantastic bird to watch, especially so well and to compare with the Hobby’s present, we marvelled as it caught and ate insects on the wing. We reluctantly carried on, hoping for another target bird, a speciality of the reserve, Golden Oriole. With the recent cold weather there had been no sign until a couple of days earlier and we found out one had been heard early that morning. We were unfortunately to have no luck in hearing or seeing this sadly declining species, which now seems to be a doomed UK breeding species.

Hobby vs. Red-footed Falcon

Field identification tips from Gi Grieco

At a distance these two related birds can be tricky to separate: flight-wise both perform in a similar fashion and have an almost identical form - although the Hobby’s wings are more scythelike, appearing sharper and longer. Fortunately, colour wise, it’s a different matter - the Red-footed’s whole blue-grey body and wings contrasts with the Hobby’s white collar and heavily flecked underside. Also there is more contrast on the Red-footed Falcon’s upperwings with the darker coverts against the silvery-grey primaries.

Up close of course, it’s a very different matter, as these two shots taken on the 19th by Ian show. The distinctive red rear and legs of the Red-footed swamp the paler

‘trousers’ of the Hobby.