Raptor Fest on a car journey

Being Boxing Day and full of food, myself and my Father decided to have a stroll round Draycote to try and walk off some of the excesses of the previous day.

As we headed down Warwick High Street, I noticed the Pigeons from St Mary's Church were agitated and flying round in a desparate fashion.  The reason for their agitated state soon became appararent when a Peregrine Falcon flew low and in a relaxed fashion over the houses.  Raptor number one.

Passing through Kites Hardwick, a Sparrowhawk flew in front of the car chasing some small passerines, while a buzzard watched on, perched on a dead tree.  Raptors number two and three.

Upon arriving at Draycote, the sky opened and provided us with some welcome rain (whatever happened to the drought), so we sought refuge back at the car and had a drive to Lawford Heath to search for any gulls loafing around the fields there by the tip.  Unfortunately, the fields were gull free but as we passed down Ling Lane a female Merlin whizzed in front of the car, then down the middle of the road.  Raptor number 4.

We chose to make our way back to Draycote as the rain has eased off, taking note of individual Kestrels making the most of the break in the rain.  Raptor number 5.

Unfortunately, as we arrived back at Draycote the heavens opened again and the rain seemed to be settled for the rest of the day.  So, we gave up the idea of a walk and headed back home via Princethorpe and Cubbington.  On the way through Cubbington we spotted 4 Waxwings perched on a tree over the road.

So, even though we did not have a walk, we managed quite a special day bird wise, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Buzzard, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon and Waxwing.