About 6 months ago what I'm sure was a peregrine landed on the plum tree in our back garden, 5 mins from Brixton Hill. Then yesterday I saw something hovering way up high , too big to be a kestrel. Has anyone else local seen it? Would the Tate Modern pair hunt this far?
If the bird you saw was hovering then the chances are it was a kestrel as none of our other raptors can do this amazing aerial trick. However if they were soaring with minimal wingbeats high up on thermals then the list grows to include buzzard, peregrine and sparrowhawk, possibly even red kite (but you should notice the long forked tail in this species)
Peregrines rarely venture into gardens but the sparrowhawk is 'top gun' in the garden habitat, there was an interesting piece on last nights springwatch about comparing peregrines with sparrowhawks called Britains got Talons which you might wish to check out.
Warden Intern at Otmoor.
Ian H said:If the bird you saw was hovering then the chances are it was a kestrel as none of our other raptors can do this amazing aerial trick.
Hi, there is another bird of prey that hovers!
Buzzards hover albeit not very often, my experience is that they are more prone to do this in a slight breeze rather than a stronger wind and also on an updraught produced at the side of a hill. Something that I have witnessed numerous times.
Also Barn Owls very briefly hover just as they pounce on their prey, again I have witnessed this on a few occassions
Also the likelihood of a Peregrine landing in your garden is slim?
Hope this helps
Regards Buzzard
Nature Is Amazing - Let Us Keep It That Way
Buzzard, thanks for the comments and good point about the barn owl, they certainly can hover, beating their wings furiously but silently perfectly poised before dropping on prey. Good point well made but not sure how likely it will be that one could be seen in Brixton Hill though?
With regards to buzzards behaviour, its an interesting discussion, they are not really designed to hover for prolonged periods, its is far too energy sapping for what is mostly a 'lazy' raptor. Why waste energy flapping furiously when they have wings designed for soaring effortlessly on the breeze? Having also seen buzzards exhibit this behaviour I will concede that they can hold station in the air for short periods using a combination of wingbeats and the airflow but it is not a common behaviour as you say and is not really equivalent to the prolonged periods of hovering that the kestrel has perfected.
Bird O'Phile, if these birds of prey turn up again in your garden and you can get a picture, i'm sure all the community users would love to see it and be willing to help identify it.
Ian H said:Good point well made but not sure how likely it will be that one could be seen in Brixton Hill though?
Hi Ian, yes totally agree about the Barn Owl in that area.
Just highlighting that there are other BOP that hover.
Although the true master as you have already pointed out is the Kestrel.
If Bird O'Phile is certain it was hovering then the liklihood is it is a Kestrel!