On the 8th May, Chris Gomersall found a first-summer male Red-footed Falcon at North Duffield Carrs. There had been several found in the country beforehand so it seemed on the cards, but so often we miss out on the action, so this was great news. Withour transport, I was resigned to not being able to get there, but James Byatt offered me a lift, and we were soon down at the platform looking expectantly north up the river. To our delight the Redfoot was immediately in view, perched on a roadside willow. A smart bird as always, with a surprising amount of ginger plumage on the nape and breast, with white on the face.
Most of the first-summer males have been more advanced than this bird, looking very much like an adult male, save the chequered underwings, so this was interesting. The bird was associating with a Hobby, and the two were making repeated sorties along the river channel to catch emerging mayflies. These little falcons are always a joy to watch and it is only my second in the York area after the long-staying first-summer female back in 2020.
9th May - Saturday
Went back to Duff at lunchtime following 'no news' on the Red-foot. I felt the morning had been chilly so perhaps it would reappear when the weather warmed and insects began to emerge. My hunch was correct, and I picked up the bird not long after arriving at the hide. It was feeding actively over the river again, associating with two Hobbies.
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