THE BIRDS OF SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE
RED-FOOTED FALCON – Falco vespertinus
As with all reports of rare and scarce birds they are subject to ratification by the respective rarities committees
Red-footed Falcon is a bird of open country with some trees, often near water. Its distinctive method of hunting is shared by the Kestrel, it regularly hovers, searching the ground below, then makes a short steep dive towards the target. Its main prey is large insects, but it will also take small mammals and birds. The scientific name 'vespertinus' comes from the Latin word 'vesper' and refers to being active in the evening. An annual vagrant in varying numbers to the UK, usually to the south and east of England with nearly seven hundred records in Britain up until the end of 2000.
There has been one Red-footed Falcon reported from S. Gloucestershire, in;
1974: (1)
On September 16th south-west of Berkeley, an adult male was identified near Severn House Farm and was seen to fly across the S. Gloucestershire/ Gloucestershire boarder. (Swaine; in lit. - 1982). This occurrence constitutes the first record of this species for S. Gloucestershire.