20
Nature Notes T
Lots to enjoy in the Great Outdoors
here is no doubt that nature has thrived under lockdown with less human activity and here in Devon we’ve been lucky to have the space and
good weather to enjoy the great outdoors at its best. The sun and silence bring the sounds and sights of wildlife to the fore - swallows are swooping all around, fledglings are setting out on their own and we’ve even spotted an unsuspecting adder basking by the side of the lane!
BIRDS OF PREY May’s wonderful weather bought big blue skies – perfect for spotting those circling and swooping raptors. The long summer evenings are perfect for an evening walk, look up and you might even spot owlets hiding out in the abundant tree canopies.
SPARROWHAWKS are small birds of prey and common visitors in the
garden. Look out for their bright yellow or
orangey eyes and long yellow legs.
BUZZARDS are often spotted in flight, circling in the sky, hovering over prey or swooping in for the kill.
The BUZZARD is Devon’s most common and one of the largest birds of prey but it’s sometimes not so easy to identify due to highly varied plumage. Look up at them flying and you’ll spot the white of their wings with dark wing tips. You can often spot them perched on a tree or fencepost eyeing up their prey.
Can’t get out ?
KESTRELS are experts at hovering – often by the side of the road or motorway. They fan their long tails out to act as a balance whilst flapping their wings to keep airborn.
PEREGRINE FALCONS are the fastest animals on the planet and can exceed speeds of 200mph. They have famous black moustache markings on the face. As one of the bigger – but rarer birds of prey - you may be lucky to spot breeding pairs along the South Devon coastline.
Listen to THE PEREGRINE - a classic written by J A Baker and read by David Attenborough available for free on BBC Sounds.
Want to know whose making those sounds? Check the RSPB website to hear different bird song/call. They also have an easy to use bird identifier for when you’ve not sure what you’ve spotted!
www.rspb.org.uk
Photo by Jane Parrish
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