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.
Regards
Benji
Just quickly zoomed in using phone software it may help somebody. If not I can maybe drop it into davince later.
Coming at it from a different angle ... the screeching.
Here is a link showing a kestrel attempting to enter a barn owl box and having a bad day. I had watched this a few days previous so remembered the noise. At 1.37 it screeches loudly as the barn owl attacks.
I ran this through birdnet. I've found it useful to identify the birds I have around me. It's actually been very accurate. It even detects if you are a human attempting to fool it. Not that I've tried . I got it to analyse the kestrel in distress and it assessed it as kestrel.
I then got it to listen to the rig recording several times at varying volumes. The noise of the rig is significant but it still picks out the call wavelengths. Enough for analysis. And it suggested that the call was kestrel but it does state unsure. I think iv already clarified that kestrels arent my strong suit. But maybe the alarm call will be someone's. However the water doesn't appear to be rusty because you can compare the clarity with the yellow line marking. I imagine an oily puddle would also be a fire hazard on an oil rig so perhaps not an oily puddle.
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