A Pox On This House

Lyra is unwell. Afflicted by one of the myriad of childhood pox-like viruses, she was not sleeping the best.

In tried and tested tradition of parents taking baby for a drive to knock them out, I set off with her for Degerby on Saturday morning...now can it be helped that this location had become rare raptor central during the week? A mere coincidence...

We arrived at Degerby, and I saw Petteri Hytonen looking into a field. I raised my bins, and there was a stunning Pallid Harrier sitting there. At last! Was worried I wasn't going to see one this Autumn, which would have been disastrous.



Pallid Harrier - Juvenile male. Delicious.





Interesting to watch this bird hunting on the ground, presumably chasing insects.



You gotta love the Pallids.






Pallid Harrier - juvenile - Pure sex on wings. 

Two Red-Footed Falcon juveniles were also in the area, though were keeping their distance. 

After an enjoyable couple of hours watching these birds, and the numerous Marsh Harriers, Accipters, Cranes and Geese migrating over, I noticed Lyra smiling at me from the back seat, meaning it was lunch time.



Sparrowhawk - September is incredible for Accipter migration. The numbers can be incredible and it really hits you just how much of a migrant Sparrowhawk actually is.


We made our way to Lillabreds, where multiple Red-Foots had been present the previous weekend. 

At least one bird was still present, though I think I saw a second a kilometer or two up the road, this individual far more obliging than those at Degerby.



Red-Footed Falcon - Juvenile - What a little cracker.









Great to get up close to these little beauties in flight. As always, that distinctive little structure present.



Returning home, Lyra, always looking up, pointed out this incredibly close White-Tailed Eagle over the garden. The pride! 




White-Tailed Eagle - monstrous

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