Other than Booted Eagles the passage of other raptors was relatively light. Probably due to the twin factors of viewing late in the season and the Levanter Cloud. Still we could not be disappointed with 7 definite Short Toed Eagles, probably a few more but too distant to be sure. 11 Sparrowhawk a single Osprey and a lone Kestrel.

Sparrowhawk Cable Car Station, 15 Oct 2009

Compare this to a short afternoon visit in the September of 96 whilst I was serving on HMS York. Black Kite x422, Honey Buzzard x75, Sparrowhawk x51. Along with smaller numbers of Black and White Storks, Booted and Short Toed Eagles Marsh and Montagu’s Harriers, Goshawk Peregrine, Osprey and Kestrel.  Alas no camera, no images to capture.

Osprey, Cable Car Station, 15 Oct 2009

I was quite pleased that one of the Short Toed Eagles came quite close. Unfortunately the light was poor with grey cloud behind the bird. Still better than no image at all. The Peregrine below was almost certainly the same bird that took on several Booted Eagles as the passed overhead.

Peregrine Falcon, Levant Battery 12 Oct 2009

Steve Copsey