• Publish Your article
  • Editorial Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
Birmingham Times
  • Home
  • UK News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Sports
    Italy 24 France 29 – Six Nations 2023 LIVE RESULT: Champs France overcome Italy battle to kick off defence with a win

    Italy 24 France 29 – Six Nations 2023 LIVE RESULT: Champs France overcome Italy battle to kick off defence with a win

    Six Nations 2023: Latest odds, free bets, bonuses and sign up offers as tournament prepares for kick off

    Six Nations 2023: Latest odds, free bets, bonuses and sign up offers as tournament prepares for kick off

    Australia stars ‘sh***ing themselves’ over Eddie Jones becoming new coach eight months before Rugby World Cup

    Australia stars ‘sh***ing themselves’ over Eddie Jones becoming new coach eight months before Rugby World Cup

    JAYTIME DEBUT EP SWEETVIBES VOL1

    Joe Marler’s wife branded him a ‘moron’ after England star called opponent’s cancer-battling mum ‘f***ing w****’

    Joe Marler’s wife branded him a ‘moron’ after England star called opponent’s cancer-battling mum ‘f***ing w****’

    David Duckham dead at 76: Former England rugby star and Coventry legend passes away as tributes pour in

    David Duckham dead at 76: Former England rugby star and Coventry legend passes away as tributes pour in

    Fans all say the same thing as Eddie Jones named Australia head coach just weeks after being sacked by England

    Fans all say the same thing as Eddie Jones named Australia head coach just weeks after being sacked by England

    ‘We were beyond grief’ – Wales boss Warren Gatland opens up on tragic death of four-month-old daughter for first time

    ‘We were beyond grief’ – Wales boss Warren Gatland opens up on tragic death of four-month-old daughter for first time

    Ken Scotland dead aged 86: Tributes pour in for former British & Irish Lions star and ‘one of the greatest players ever’

    Ken Scotland dead aged 86: Tributes pour in for former British & Irish Lions star and ‘one of the greatest players ever’

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • food
    • Health
    • Travel
    I was diagnosed with incurable cancer after noticing something odd when I got drunk

    I was diagnosed with incurable cancer after noticing something odd when I got drunk

    People are just spotting a symbol on their potato packets, and now they’re worried their whole life is a lie

    People are just spotting a symbol on their potato packets, and now they’re worried their whole life is a lie

    Things to do in Ireland – from visiting mystical movie settings to surfing the Wild Atlantic Way

    Things to do in Ireland – from visiting mystical movie settings to surfing the Wild Atlantic Way

    Foodie shows off her ‘perfect’ cheesy pasta using Asda steals… but mortified people are all saying the same thing

    Foodie shows off her ‘perfect’ cheesy pasta using Asda steals… but mortified people are all saying the same thing

    Town wins title of friendliest place in the world

    Town wins title of friendliest place in the world

    Cocktails are back in fashion after 30 years but would you rather drink new trendy tipple or a 90s classic?

    Cocktails are back in fashion after 30 years but would you rather drink new trendy tipple or a 90s classic?

    These Cotswolds hotels are great for a weekend escape all year round

    These Cotswolds hotels are great for a weekend escape all year round

    Unborn baby’s life saved after mum has breakfast of jam on toast

    Unborn baby’s life saved after mum has breakfast of jam on toast

    I went shopping in M&S and I couldn’t believe when I was ID’d for egg fried rice, it was the weirdest reason

    I went shopping in M&S and I couldn’t believe when I was ID’d for egg fried rice, it was the weirdest reason

    This former university building is now one of Durham’s grandest hotels

    This former university building is now one of Durham’s grandest hotels

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Health
  • Opinion
  • Tech
  • Science
  • Travel
  • Real Estate
  • Sports
  • More
    • Crypto
    • Press Release
Birmingham Times
No Result
View All Result
Home Lifestyle Travel

Nature Calls: Scoping out Sheppey for Britain’s smallest bird of prey

by Chandler
December 12, 2022
0
0
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Reddit


The majestic merlin
The majestic merlin (Picture: Getty Images)

It could be just a clod of mud, there, in the green field churned by cows.

We’re on the sea wall looking inland at the most easterly point on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent.

And just to the right of the white thing that could be a broken plastic bottle but before that scattering of dried grass is the smallest bird of prey in the UK.

To the naked eye it is indistinguishable from the clods but unmistakeable through the telescope.

Brown upper parts, about the size of a blackbird, a pale chest with dark vertical streaks and hunched shoulders, with ‘eyebrows’ that meet at the bill. It’s a merlin – either a female or a youngster – and it’s only the second we’ve ever seen.

This part of Sheppey, the marshes that make up Swale National Nature Reserve, is ranked as one of the best sites in the entire south-east for spotting merlins and other wintering raptors.

These are birds of prey that breed in the colder north – of the UK but also further up towards the Arctic – and overwinter here.

The Swale National Nature Reserve on the Isle of Sheppey
The Swale National Nature Reserve on the Isle of Sheppey (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
A short-eared owl in flight
A short-eared owl out hunting (Picture: Getty Images)

The other headline species is the hen harrier – the male an almost regal silver – which is much persecuted by gamekeepers. Short-eared owls are also a possibility and rough-legged buzzards can also appear – but only to the very fortunate.

It is bitingly cold this Sunday morning. The forecast is 6C that, with the wind, will feel like 2C. There are hundreds of brent geese here – neat, compact birds, largely black – that honk and gobble almost turkey-like to each other as they fly overhead in wobbly Vs.

It’s high tide and hundreds of oystercatchers roost huddled together on what’s left of the shore, a mass of black that waits for the sea to peel back from the mud so as to resume digging invertebrate from the sludge.

A flock of dunlin
A flock of dunlin gather on the shore (Picture: Shutterstock/Randy Bjorklund)
A grey plover
A grey plover (Picture: Shutterstock/Vincenzo Iacovoni)

Beside them, dunlin scrum together – tiny waders that are dull-brown-dun-brown above and white below. And among them are one or two grey plover – although there is nothing ‘grey’ about these pot-bellied, short-billed cousins of lapwings that dazzle like elvish silver when the light falls right upon them.

But it is this merlin we had hoped for. It sits on the ground, bopping its head up and down. Is it looking for prey?

More: Environment

zone post image for post 17911372

Expert says we should 'get used to power cuts' and reveals tips to cope in blackouts

zone post image for post 17909413

Eco-warriors humiliated after stopping concert by gluing to removable stand

zone post image for post 17818998

The amount of human litter found inside this dead sperm whale was 'horrific'

They feed on small birds, such as meadow pipits, often chasing them on the wing. And there are plenty of pipits here, fluttering up from the sea purslane with a ‘tseep’.

The merlin bobs some more then flies low, left, tail briefly fanned. But not for long. No more than a few yards. It lands back among the dried grass and the clods.

A female merlin in flight
A female merlin in flight (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

It carries out four, five, six more of these short flights. Each time our breath catches – has it picked out a prey? Will we see it in full chase?

After 20 minutes it takes flight again but this time making height, up into the cold air, away up to our left – a silhouette against the grey, flapping on a killer’s wings before soaring down and out of sight into the purslane of the marshes.


MORE : Nature Calls: On the hunt for a ‘butcher bird’ that impales its prey – aka the great grey shrike


MORE : Nature Calls: In search of wonderful winter visitors at Abberton Reservoir



Source link

Chandler

Chandler

Related Posts

Things to do in Ireland – from visiting mystical movie settings to surfing the Wild Atlantic Way

Things to do in Ireland – from visiting mystical movie settings to surfing the Wild Atlantic Way

by Chandler
February 6, 2023
0

Ireland is the setting of many myths and tales (Picture: Getty) From surfing in Sligo to a cold-water dunk in Dublin, here’s a round-up of new reasons to visit Ireland. Land...

Town wins title of friendliest place in the world

Town wins title of friendliest place in the world

by Chandler
February 2, 2023
0

Lama Monachile Cala Porto beach in Polignano a Mare, Southern Italy (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto) Who doesn’t love a little bit of Italy? It’s got amazing food, stunning views, amazing weather and...

These Cotswolds hotels are great for a weekend escape all year round

These Cotswolds hotels are great for a weekend escape all year round

by Chandler
January 29, 2023
0

Barnsley House is ideal for summer esacpes and winter getaways (Picture: Barnsley House) Some spots are stunning all year around – and you don’t even have to travel very far to...

This former university building is now one of Durham’s grandest hotels

This former university building is now one of Durham’s grandest hotels

by Chandler
January 25, 2023
0

Rooms start from £135 at Hotel Indigo Durham (Picture: Hotel Indigo Durham) On a dreary day in Durham a lifetime ago my now wife and I were part of a tense...

Top tips for cycling in icy weather

Top tips for cycling in icy weather

by Chandler
January 21, 2023
0

Cycling during winter can prove to be very tricky (Picture: Getty Images) A clear, crisp winter day can make for an excellent cycle ride, whether you’re commuting or just taking in...

These A-list owned hotels have serious star quality

These A-list owned hotels have serious star quality

by Chandler
January 17, 2023
0

Live like the stars do (Picture: PA/The Clarence Hotel/Greenwich Hotel/Annie Schlchter) While fame may provide protection from many things (waiting in line for the latest designer handbag and doing your own...

Next Post
Government must not give in and outlaw these crippling and dangerous strikes

Government must not give in and outlaw these crippling and dangerous strikes

Popular News

Axis Bank achieved good operational performance and sustained growth across all businesses

Axis Bank achieved good operational performance and sustained growth across all businesses

18 hours ago
The parrot jailed its owner

The parrot jailed its owner

18 hours ago
Indian Railways will start Bharat Gaurav AC tourist train

Indian Railways will start Bharat Gaurav AC tourist train

18 hours ago
Italy 24 France 29 – Six Nations 2023 LIVE RESULT: Champs France overcome Italy battle to kick off defence with a win

Italy 24 France 29 – Six Nations 2023 LIVE RESULT: Champs France overcome Italy battle to kick off defence with a win

19 hours ago
The Indian cricket team will not travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup

The Indian cricket team will not travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup

19 hours ago
I was diagnosed with incurable cancer after noticing something odd when I got drunk

I was diagnosed with incurable cancer after noticing something odd when I got drunk

19 hours ago
People are just spotting a symbol on their potato packets, and now they’re worried their whole life is a lie

People are just spotting a symbol on their potato packets, and now they’re worried their whole life is a lie

19 hours ago
Rishi Sunak knows his Government will stand or fall on his ability to stop the migrant boats

Rishi Sunak knows his Government will stand or fall on his ability to stop the migrant boats

19 hours ago
Birmingham Times

All Rights Reserved © Birmingham Times - The Voice of UK

Important Links

  • Publish Your article
  • Editorial Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Advertise

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Politics
  • UK News
  • Business
  • Science
  • National
  • Entertainment
  • Gaming
  • Sports
  • Fashion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Health
  • Food

All Rights Reserved © Birmingham Times - The Voice of UK

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In