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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Egypt, Nile Valley Raptors - No. 4 (1 Viewer)

Mr Patience

Mr Patience

Well-known member
Just got back from cruise on the Nile. Lovely place. I need help with some of the more distant sightings, please.

I can be more specific about the location if needed, but all sightings were between Luxor and Abu Simbel.

I've got quite a few birds so I'll do them in lots. Many thanks.

My thoughts are:
1 Long-legged buzzard (per a local bird expert who saw the photo only)
2 Marsh harrier
3 Black kite
 

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Hi,
I would tend to agree with all 3 of your suggestions, but note I am not familiar with long legged buzzard so may be wrong on that one.
regards,
Jono
 
The first one is an adult Common Buzzard (probably vulpinus or intergrade). For example the tail pattern excludes a Honey Buzzard in any plumage (and the species doesn't occur in Egypt in winter). A dark Long-legged Buzzard would show darker carpal patches and more uniformly coloured underwing coverts.
 
Just out of curiosity: Black Kite aegyptius is sometimes thought to be a separate species. Is it possible to say from a photo like this if we are looking at one of those or a migrant from the north?

thanks
Niels
 
An adult aegyptius ('Yellow-billed Kite') would have an all yellow bill, so I'd presume that the subject bird (which is not a juvenile based on the lack of pale tips to the greater upperwing coverts) is probably of the nominate ssp. However, I'm not completely certain whether young adult Yellow-billed Kites may still show a dark bill tip.
 
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