We've been looking at the field across the lane from our holiday base for a week now and rueing the fact that the grass was six feet high. The problem was at the bottom of the field is a pair of Black Shouldered Kites with a chick in the nest. We have been trying to photograph them to no avail, because we just couldn't get close enough.
We were pleased to see when we got up this morning that the farmer had decided to get out his ancient, small, Case tractor and was slowly cutting the grass. That also had the benefit of attracting up to eighteen Buzzards, eager to catch the mice and voles that had been disturbed. It was a super photo opportunity witnessed from the 'hide' of the upstairs windows.
There was a downside though, as it appears that the Buzzards were attracted to the Kite chick. The parents had to work very hard to protect the chick, but for some time after it looked as though they had failed. Thankfully by late afternoon, we noticed three kites in the trees. The chick hadn't been taken, it had fledged.
But what an evening to have left the nest, as we experienced our fifth thunderstorm since Saturday evening. This image taken from the same window as this morning's Buzzards.
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