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Off Topic Unexpected visitor

Discussion in 'Sunderland' started by old lads fan, Jul 7, 2020.

  1. old lads fan

    old lads fan Well-Known Member

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    I was woken this morning by a loud bang on my bedroom patio doors at around 7am, jumped out of bed threw open the curtains expecting to see a burglar trying to enter my apartment. Highly unlikely as I'm 25 feet above ground but when you hear a loud bang you fear the worst.
    This is what I was woken by. A449F7AB-D1C8-4EFE-8E43-166FE3432C86.jpeg A young male Lesser Kestrel
    C5EA0926-62ED-44F7-8314-153D15844157.jpeg I took some pics on my iPhone before he flew off but he didn't budge so I grabbed my Leica camera and took some more pics, he jumped up onto the planters and gave me some great opportunities to get some nice pics. I got really close and he didn't flinch, his eyes followed me all the time. 1B1E1BA4-B4CE-4111-9530-50F018341F12_1_201_a.jpeg
    I took 50/60 pics and he just sat there like an old pro. I'll just post a couple cos they are very big files and I'm not too good at reducing them.
    A09B955A-C4E1-4050-8CE1-467CA7BE2C7B.jpeg He stayed on the planter till about 1 this afternoon, ate some ham and drank some water I gave him then he tried to fly off. He ended up in the bushes and trees you can see below him in the last picture and struggled to right himself and eventually fell to the ground. I saw a cat watching all this and he went looking for the bird so I went to see if he was ok but couldn't find him. There is no sign of him and he wasn't calling for his parents who were watching and calling for him while he was in the planter. I hope he makes it but his chances are very small but he is/was a beautiful little creature and for a member of the Falcon family very calm when confronted by a big old human.
    My Daughter is trying to get me to write a blog for my photography but I wouldn't know where to start, I just enjoy taking the pictures and if people like what they see that makes me happy.
     
    #1
  2. Kittenmittons

    Kittenmittons Well-Known Member

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    This is incredible. The pictures are exceptional too. He's a beaut.
     
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  3. rooch 3

    rooch 3 Well-Known Member

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    He looks a right bonny little thing but I bet if you got to close he would have your arm off.<laugh>
     
    #3
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  4. old lads fan

    old lads fan Well-Known Member

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    Thanks Kitten, there is a family nesting just one floor above me on the roof and he has clearly fell off his perch and crash landed on my patio. He still had quite a bit of downy feathers on his wings so he was too immature to fly. If I could I would have taken him up to the roof but the apartment is unoccupied so I couldn't take him up, it's nature but a crying shame. When they pair up they bond for life.
     
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  5. old lads fan

    old lads fan Well-Known Member

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    He was so inquisitive it was unreal, you're right about taking an arm off, his talons were huge.
     
    #5
  6. Kittenmittons

    Kittenmittons Well-Known Member

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    That is amazing, whereabouts are you if you don't mind me asking? I think it's my dream to see a bird of prey in the 'wild' in this kind of proximity, albeit the circumstances are sad.

    If you ever want any help with the blog, let me know. I can help you get set up.
     
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  7. old lads fan

    old lads fan Well-Known Member

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    I'm on the Costa Del Sol Kittens, Duquesa area. There's a few breeding pairs living around here and this little fella's parents fly within a few feet from me every time they return to the nest. I posted a pic a few weeks ago of one of them coming into land just above me.
    This is it. 9DC7A644-7808-4CDD-A662-6C6ADD083023_1_201_a.jpeg



    Thanks for the offer of help with the blog.
     
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  8. Iansun

    Iansun Well-Known Member

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    It likes its picture taken by the looks of it
     
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  9. Kittenmittons

    Kittenmittons Well-Known Member

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    Not a problem - whenever you like, you can send me a pm on here.
     
    #9
  10. marcusblackcat

    marcusblackcat SAFC Sheriff
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    Stunning birds to watch. To be able to get that close to a youngster is amazing! Fantastic photography too @old lads fan
     
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  11. Nig

    Nig Well-Known Member

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    Daughter managed to save this fledgling from the bastid cat a while back. It also had some hair wrapped round it's legs which she removed and popped it back in the bird box where they were nesting.

    IMG_20200529_111128332.jpg

    Makes a change from rescuing Bees in the conservatory with sugary water :D

    Although it won't let me post a pic as it's saying the file is too large.

    There's a pair of Kestrels nest on the roof at work every year. I thought i had a picture of a young un from recently on my phone but can't find it.
     
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  12. monty987

    monty987 Well-Known Member

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    could have been worse ! rod hull.jpg rod hull.jpg
     
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  13. Nig

    Nig Well-Known Member

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    #13
  14. Kittenmittons

    Kittenmittons Well-Known Member

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    Great this.

    For my birthday my mrs got me a bird box with an HD camera feed into it that I'm going to hook up in the autumn. The downside is I need to plug it in so either got to go through the wall of the house or the garage.

    Bit worried that it will.just be a window into tragedy if whatever nests in there dies mind :D
     
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  15. rooch 3

    rooch 3 Well-Known Member

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    Why not take you wire from the garage outside and have a water proof socket so you can use it for anything?
     
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  16. Kittenmittons

    Kittenmittons Well-Known Member

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    Yeah it's a possibility I was thinking about while I wrote it, got a bunch of other home renovation stuff going on so probably makes sense.
     
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  17. Nig

    Nig Well-Known Member

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    Make sure you put it in the right spot ;)
    North to east facing is best.
    Mine is facing North West but protected from the sun and rain by an overhanging summerhouse roof.
    Tilt it forward too if its exposed.
    This is the 3rd time blue tits have nested in it,
    Had two bees nests in there too.
    There used to be a lot of trees over the back from me that attracted doves and wood pigeon then a hawk would visit and get the numbers down :)
    Less shìte on the mrs washing then :D
     
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  18. Kittenmittons

    Kittenmittons Well-Known Member

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    I have Great Tits in the garden (my favourite kind :D ), hoping they'll nest! Thanks for the tips.
     
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