Hi,
For the last 4 weeks or so we have had a peregrine falcon which seems to have taken up residence somewhere near our house.
Can someone tell me if this would have harmed of scared away our long standing Rite Kite breeding pair as we have not seen them or their young since the Falcons appearance.
Also is it a possibility that the Falcon belongs to someone- ie the military air base close to us? I know they have used them to clear runway of birds! Should I contact the base?
Hope someone can help.
We are not bird experts in any shape but have loved watching our beautiful Red Kites and their young for 5 years and would be upset to have lost them.
Many thanks
Duncan and Gill
Hi Duncan/Gill
If you are certain it is a Peregrine Falcon and not a Sparrowhawk it would certainly be an option to ring the base to see if it is theirs.
With the size difference I'm not sure the Kites would be driven off by a Peregrine though they are formidable Birds of Prey.
My Flickr photos
If it is an escaped Peregrine and you get good views of it keep a lookout for the Jesses (straps) on its legs.
In reply to Alan:
Hi, thanks I will look today, We can get quite close before he/she got away a bit then lands again.
Do you have a camera to take a photo?
Yes definitely a peregrine falcon and quite a large beautiful bird itself.
Would be sad to to see the Kites again though, we have spent days watching them gliding around and hunting, amazing bird.
Thanks, I will ring the base just incase.
Will try and get a picture on later and post on here , thanks
Nice one good luck
If it's a big bird it will be a female
Hello Duncan and Gill, how lovely for you to have not only Red Kites but also Perigrines. Hopefully it will belong to the base and that your kites will re appear. Either way enjoy these lovley birds.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.