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Sep 2018
6:43pm, 11 Sep 2018
26,878 posts
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Derby Tup
Seen this afternoon / early evening driving from Chesterfield to the Worth Valley via my old patch in Wharfedale:
1 kestrel
1 buzzard
1 sparrowhawk
1 red kite
1 swallow
A few house martin
1 curlew followed quite quickly with further maybe 70 - 80 coming into roost on the outskirts of Ilkley - they overwinter there and are as much part of the local scene as the distinctive pink casks used by Ilkley Brewery for their highly-rated Mary Jane session ale 
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Sep 2018
9:20am, 12 Sep 2018
1,361 posts
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J2R
Nice set there, DT. I'm definitely seeing more raptors these days than I used to. Obviously there has been a recovery from the DDT wipe-out, but has there also been an increase in the vole population or something, to provide a food source? Rabbit numbers are down as a result of myxomatosis, so what are they all feeding on? Predators and prey tend to be in some kind of balance.
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Sep 2018
9:26am, 12 Sep 2018
17,855 posts
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flanker
I think it's partly that they are becoming more urbanised, both giving wider territory options and making them more visible. Around us red kites are among the most prevalent raptors these days.
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Sep 2018
9:31am, 12 Sep 2018
1,362 posts
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J2R
True, flanker, but I'm seeing them out in the countryside too. Lots of buzzards, lots of red kites, more kestrels than I've seen for a few years.
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Sep 2018
10:29am, 12 Sep 2018
10,894 posts
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D2
Earlier this year I posted that I was worried I hadn't seen "my" buzzards for a while, fetchies on here were quite right that they were nesting and would be back. At the same time I mentioned we had a kestrel around which was unusual. It was commented on that he/she might be filling the gap and hopefully would stay.
Update, the buzzards came back of course but with only one offspring rather than the usual 3 ish and the kestrel has stayed. It was on a pole on the edge of my garden yesterday and I tried to take you a photo but my camera isn't good enough to show more than a splodge but I'm sure you will take my word for it! 
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Sep 2018
10:02am, 13 Sep 2018
17,593 posts
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KinkyS
One solitary swallow over the river yesterday evening
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Sep 2018
6:10pm, 13 Sep 2018
26,888 posts
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Derby Tup
Still a few swallow around in our area . . . not be long till the redwing, fieldfare and pinkies arrive (plus waxwing - I’m predicting an eruption this winter ❄️)
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Sep 2018
8:07pm, 13 Sep 2018
19,399 posts
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Wriggling Snake
Pulborough Brooks
3 x Hobby
Marsh Harrier
Green Sandpiper
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Sep 2018
10:47pm, 13 Sep 2018
26,891 posts
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Derby Tup
Nice 
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Sep 2018
11:42am, 14 Sep 2018
17,864 posts
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flanker
Went looking for the local hobbies yesterday. No sign of them, but there was a kingfisher and my first sight of a snake in the wild for a long time.
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