Red Kites, Crossbills and Ravens!

The tags on this Red Kite are not clear, but can anyone help out with knowing where this bird has come from? This bird performed well at the Stiperstones

  Overcast skies again as we made our way towards Brown Clee, hoping to connect with the Great Grey Shrike. However, this didn't happen, but we did get 13 Crossbills and good selection of woodland birds including, a male Bullfinch, Siskin and a flock of 6 Jay. A pair of Ravens were building a nest nearby and gave us both very good views. Before all this happened, we got the 4 adult Whooper Swans at Cound and a Red Kite flew low over the car, following the A49 just outside Craven Arms.

Two Dippers at Longnor

A pair of Raven were nest building at Brown Clee

A pair of Crossbill were in the tops of the pines.

This male Crossbill started singing

Bracket Fungi

Up to 4 Red Kite wee at the Stiperstones

  The sun came through, but the cold SW wind was gusting up to 50-60 mph. This didn't stop the Red Kites showing off at very close range at the Stiperstones. Altogether we had 4 birds with both Raven and Buzzard. John found a male Blackcap in a hedge just at the entrance of the road leading up to the Stiperstones!

  After the kites we returned to the Yellowhammer field near Cluton Coppice. Here, I could only produce over 100 Yellowhammers, 70 Brambling, 30 Chaffinch and 110 Skylark. Speaking to Rob Stokes tonight, who made a visit to the site this morning, he told me that he had over 200 Yellowhammers and Brambling!

  I was told that a Barn Owl shows up at Venus Pool in the evenings and sure enough just before dark, it was seen hunting over the far right hide. There was also one of the adult Whooper Swans roosting on the pool with 14 Shoveler.