A rare red-footed falcon has been spotted in Lowestoft, Suffolk, drawing excitement from birdwatchers. The vulnerable species, native to Eastern Europe and Central Asia, typically migrates to Africa for winter.
Ornithologist and ecologist Harry Read suggested the bird, likely hatched this year, was blown into East Anglia by easterly winds, arriving in Lowestoft exhausted. He noted that while a few red-footed falcons are seen in the UK annually, it remains a rarity.
The falcon was observed near the Dragonfly mural on Rotterdam Road, feeding on insects. Mr Read stated that the bird, alone and hundreds of miles off course, needs to build its strength. Jon Carter from the British Trust for Ornithology acknowledged that while survival is not guaranteed for off-course birds, some do survive.