Red-footed Falcon: From August onwards red-footed Falcons begin their long migratory flight back to Southern Africa. Where they often gather in large concentrations to feed on swarms of insects, in the company of hobbies and lesser kestrels.
This time in Marton Mere near Blackpool.
Marton Mere offers everything this little falcon needs from large open water habitats teaming with dragonflies, plenty of trees and shrubs to perch upon that offer a good vantage point to hunt insects from.
The bird was faithful to a stand alone mature hawthorn east of Heron Hide and was constantly flying in and out of it to catch dragonflies.
Smaller than kestrel, about size of hobby, these birds are of slim build and thin, with pointed wings that like hobby, but a longer tail.
