• Sabresonic
  • 1 Nov 2022 5:08 PM
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  • Replies 21 replies
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Hawk killing hawk

Hello Experts

Filmed this video on an oilrig in the North Sea in the middle of September this year. No idea what species the birds are, but suspecting they were migrating south and stopped off on the rig, which was located around 50 miles off the Lincolnshire coast. They appear to be the same species but I can't find them in my ancient Observers Book Of Birds. Sorry about the quality. The footage was filmed on a cheap digital camera. The original video is 45 secs long but the attack/kill/eat went on for around 30 minutes. If anybody can ID the birds, I'd be very grateful.

  • ItisaRobbo
    Killer is a goshawk. Can't really see much of the victim. They are known to kill sparrowhawks but can't really see if it is one.
  • BenjiS
    Could the bird being attacked possibly be a kestrel?

    Regards

    Benji

  • ItisaRobbo

    In reply to BenjiS:

    It could but what are you basing kestrel i.d. on? I can just make out markings on part of wing. Not much else.
  • Sabresonic
    Hello bird experts. Thanks very much for the input. Do goshawks and kestrels migrate? We're quite a way from land and I don't think these birds had been blown out to sea, not like the wood pigeons and jackdaws that occasionally turn up on the rig. While this attack was going on, another similar looking hawk was spotted just round the corner. 3 hawks arrived on the rig at the same time. I've added the first 10 seconds of the footage I captured, as well as a still that shows the colouring of the victim (does look like a kestrel, now you mention it...)
  • ItisaRobbo
    I still can't make it into a kestrel but wouldn't rule it out. Wouldn't be surprised if both were goshawks. They do migrate from northern Europe.
  • Sabresonic

    In reply to ItisaRobbo:

    Hello ItisaRobbo, I've looked at images of goshawks and the aggressor definitely looks like one (white markings above the eyes swung it for me). As for the victim, it does seem to have the colouring of a kestrel. Rig is heading to Dundee at the end of the year, so I'll hopefully get to see the sparrow hawks swooping after the feral pigeons again.
  • ItisaRobbo

    In reply to Sabresonic:

    Attacking bird is clear and definitely a goshawk. The victim, apart from the grey and white in the videos, I can't see any colouring other than in the still. The videos show wing barring that appears similar to the attacker and whiteness that emphasises the barring. The apparent colouring on the still is a kind of rusty colour. Is that puddle rusty (or oily) water? Not convinced it's kestrel coloured, and wing depth suggests it's not either. I wouldn't rule it out, but looks improbably to me from what can be made out.
  • Happles

    Just quickly zoomed in using phone software  it may help somebody. If not I can maybe drop it into davince later.

  • Sabresonic
    I've added another image that shows the plumage of the victim. The original picture was grainy and this is a snip from a zoom-in, so apologies about the poor resolution. It seems to be reddish-brown. What kind of bird would that be then?
  • ItisaRobbo

    In reply to Sabresonic:

    Attacking bird is clear and definitely a goshawk. The victim, apart from the grey and white in the videos, I can't see any colouring other than in the still. The videos show wing barring that appears similar to the attacker and whiteness that emphasises the barring. The apparent colouring on the still is a kind of rusty colour. Is that puddle rusty (or oily) water?