I saw this largish BOP on Sunday at Lodmoor. It was quite high up hovering above the reedbeds. I couldn't see any detail because I was almost looking straight up into the sun but I wondered if any of you clever people out there are able to ID from a silhouette? Sorry for the poor photos.
Answer: Kestrel
There is something new to learn everyday...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skylark58/
Hi,
the hovering and the tail bar point to Kestrel :)
S
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Hi Seymour,
Well yes... but it seemed way too big for a kestrel and was quite high up. I know kestrels, they're the ones that hover at roadsides and are smallish. It didn't hover in the same way either, it seemed more to glide with stretched wings in the same way that a buzzard does. It was mobbed by a crow or rook and a gull at one point and it was bigger than both of them. Is there anything else it could have been other than a giant kestrel?
SB
Unknown said: Hi Seymour, Well yes... but it was way too big for a kestrel and quite high up. I know kestrels, they hover at roadsides and are smallish. Is there anything else it could have been other than a giant kestrel? SB
Well yes... but it was way too big for a kestrel and quite high up. I know kestrels, they hover at roadsides and are smallish. Is there anything else it could have been other than a giant kestrel?
size can be deceptive- but I eliminated everything else. It's a falcon on wing shape, so Rough legged buzzard which also hovers is right out, the jizz is kestrel and the tail bar clinches it :)
OK, thanks very much, you've convinced me. It was lovely to watch. Like most people I usually only see kestrels briefly as I pass them in the car. I guess they look bigger when you are nearly underneath them!
I saw a super BOP recently sitting in tree and I was very pleased with my discovery until a nearby fisherman told me that it's owner knew it was there and that it was refusing to come down. Sure enough I saw in the photo afterwards that it was wearing jesses. I think it was a Harris hawk. It was a fabulous bird.
Regards,
SB: Glad to hear the answer has been sorted. A Kestrel it is. I have to say it does look although it is in hovering mode looking at the picture. That is there favourite flight always hunting for food.
SB: Love your Harris Hawk he is a beauty. Not such a regular bird to see in a Bird Guide/ID book!
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Unknown said: Hi, OK, thanks very much, you've convinced me. It was lovely to watch. Like most people I usually only see kestrels briefly as I pass them in the car. I guess they look bigger when you are nearly underneath them! I saw a super BOP recently sitting in tree and I was very pleased with my discovery until a nearby fisherman told me that it's owner knew it was there and that it was refusing to come down. Sure enough I saw in the photo afterwards that it was wearing jesses. I think it was a Harris hawk. It was a fabulous bird. Regards, SB
HI SB,
no photo's showing!!!!!
Could you please try editing your thread and upload the photo's again.
If they stay put, hopefully the bird will get identified or I could confirm what others think!
Regards Buzzard
Nature Is Amazing - Let Us Keep It That Way
Hi Buzzard,
At work now but I'll reload later.
Thanks SB,
will check back later.
Buzzard
Hi SB, finally your pictures are showing at my end!
Seymouraves has ID the photo's.
Nice shot of the Harris Hawk.
Thanks Buzzard :-)