Red-footed falcon, Staffordshire

Today we went to Chatterly Whitfield in Staffordshire to see a 1st summer red-footed falcon. A really beautiful, endearing bird, more budgie like than falcon, this was my first for 21 years, only my third ever and easily the best view I have ever had. Red-footed falcons can be quite approachable and spend a lot of time on the ground looking for earth worms and insects, and this one performed well in a horse paddock next to the entrance to the colliery. Also in the horse paddock, a black redstart.

My previous red-footed falcons were at Lakenheath in Suffolk in 1983 and Chat Moss 1996.

Year: 236 (Red-footed falcon)

Black redstart.