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  1. R

    Kestrel, Shetland 01/05/2017 (05/01/2017 US)

    I wonder where they got the idea it was a Lesser Kestrel.
  2. R

    Kestrel, Shetland 01/05/2017 (05/01/2017 US)

    From the BB Rarities Committee Twitter page of 27th August the Noss record of Lesser Kestrel has been accepted. Thanks to Tom & Peter for helping to establish this record, only the 3rd modern Scottish record. Cheers
  3. R

    Kestrel, Shetland 01/05/2017 (05/01/2017 US)

    Here's a lovely comparison shot of an almost identical bird: https://www.flickr.com/photos/odehs/5543353377 I'm still puzzled by why the bars on the tail don't show up in our bird. Must be camera angle, as suggested by Tom. Cheers
  4. R

    Kestrel, Shetland 01/05/2017 (05/01/2017 US)

    My pleasure Tom. I'm having a whale of a time learning something new about this species every time I read the literature (most of the old field guides are pretty much useless for the finer points). I knew 3 things about LKs before, one not always the case, one wrong and one sort of right. Now...
  5. R

    Kestrel, Shetland 01/05/2017 (05/01/2017 US)

    A crop from another, third photo, very similar to the original, but where the bird has turned to look at the photographer. Note the fine streaking on the crown, much less coarse than that of CK, and the whitish area just above the bill. Also the shorter moustaches, each starting from directly...
  6. R

    Kestrel, Shetland 01/05/2017 (05/01/2017 US)

    Since there has been some comment on Twitter about the paleness of the claws (which in LK according to Corso (2001) are not always 'white' but typically pale greyish with a slight yellowish tinge, and occasionally darker) I include here a blowup of the relevant area. The claws appear to fit...
  7. R

    Kestrel, Shetland 01/05/2017 (05/01/2017 US)

    This pattern of streaking in females is mentioned by Corso in the BB paper, in most birds barely reaching the belly or trousers, and where it does much lighter and thinner, only 'a few' having bolder streaking on the breast or belly like Common Kestrel. I am now firmly of the opinion that this...
  8. R

    Kestrel, Shetland 01/05/2017 (05/01/2017 US)

    Yes, I can see why!... Cheers
  9. R

    Kestrel, Shetland 01/05/2017 (05/01/2017 US)

    Quite, in a thumbnail the whole front is remarkably pale - reminded me more of fem. Red-backed Shrike! The russet head, mentioned by Forsman, shows well here too. Cheers
  10. R

    Kestrel, Shetland 01/05/2017 (05/01/2017 US)

    I have rather light-heartedly tweeted North Ron Bird Obs., as per their blog they recorded 'a single Kestrel' on the 30th April, asking if it was a female. Well, you never know. Cheers
  11. R

    Kestrel, Shetland 01/05/2017 (05/01/2017 US)

    I'd contacted Craig Nisbet re this bird, and have in return received a few more photos, most are very similar to the original but this one (cropped to fit BF limits, but otherwise not altered) shows a front view. Please do not download, copy or distribute this image, which is copyright Craig...
  12. R

    Kestrel, Shetland 01/05/2017 (05/01/2017 US)

    Interesting, but any ID of either species will take in several factors, as individual birds may show freak characters as a one-off. Cheers
  13. R

    Kestrel, Shetland 01/05/2017 (05/01/2017 US)

    Lucky guess by me, I would say. No skill involved. Cheers
  14. R

    Kestrel, Shetland 01/05/2017 (05/01/2017 US)

    Many thanks. I hadn't picked up on the chevrons, but going back to William Clark's Field Guide (which is the book I found most useful), there is indeed a difference in the shape of these markings as illustrated, being thinner and less blotchy in Lesser, which matches this bird. The more I look...
  15. R

    Kestrel, Shetland 01/05/2017 (05/01/2017 US)

    I thought so too, but have very little experience (odd birds on migration in Turkey, always identified by a local expert). Cheers
  16. R

    Kestrel, Shetland 01/05/2017 (05/01/2017 US)

    Has anyone seen an imm/fem Common Kestrel with a tail like this?: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10158689399095626&set=gm.715093828670832&type=3&theater I'm not claiming anything, just curious. There's been some comment in this thread...
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