David Element's Wildlife Web Page Birds 32

David Element

Wildlife Photography

and Digital Video Images

_______________________________ Birds 32 - Raptors 1

RED KITE Milvus milvus

BLACK KITE Milvus migrans

BUZZARD Buteo buteo

PEREGRINE FALCONS Falco peregrinus (JUVENILES)

SPARROWHAWK Accipiter nisus

GRIFFON VULTURE Gyps fulvus

LAMMERGEIER Gypaetus barbatus

GOLDEN EAGLE Aquila chrysaetos (JUVENILE)

SHORT-TOED EAGLE Circaetus gallicus

The Red Kite, easily recognised by its forked tail, is one of the great success stories of individual species conservation in the UK. Several waves of artificial re-introduction of European bloodstock have been used to reinforce the remaining native breeding population in Wales and this bird has now begun to spread quite widely. Because these birds can fly long distances and may reach the UK from continental Europe there are fewer concerns about compromising the native gene pool than there might be for a relatively static and isolated species. The bird collecting meat from a Welsh feeding station is believed to have drifted over from England as it carries a coloured wing tag.

The Black Kite, Buzzard and Griffon Vulture were photographed in northern Spain. Black Kites are abundant throughout much of the World and they do occasionally reach the UK. Buzzards are beginning to re-colonise the South East of England - although the reason for their earlier absence from an area with a good supply of Rabbits has always been difficult to explain. Griffon Vultures have been successfully reintroduced to the gorges of southern France recently.

Peregrine Falcons have recovered spectacularly from a dramatic population crash during the second half of the twentieth century and some pairs have even bred in London. The two newly fledged birds seen here were photographed in southern England. The 'anchor' shape is diagnostic.

Sparrowhawks were particularly badly hit by the use of toxic DDT during the middle of the twentieth century. Fortunately their numbers have now recovered to a healthy level.

The rare Lammergeier (or Bearded Vulture) with its distinctive tail, juvenile Golden Eagle (hence the pale wing patches) and Short-toed Eagle were all photographed with digital equipment during a walk in the Hautes-Pyrénées near the French/Spanish border. These images have been significantly cropped and enlarged as the subjects were all some distance away.