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Large Raptor ID help Please. Cambridgeshire,UK (1 Viewer)

J

JCLynn

Well-known member
Watched this large raptor, today, over the nene washes, cambs, UK. It was soaring high, along with 2 others. I could only get shots from below as they didn't descend low enough to be able to see the upper wing. I'm thinking Common Buzzard but they appear to have a 'moustache' and look a bit falcon like, plus, the lack of carpel patches has foxed me.. They were large birds, bigger than the Marsh Harriers, which were also in the air at the same time.
I hope the attached photo's help anybody kind enough to help me with an ID.
Thanks in advance,
Joe

raptor1.jpg raptor2.jpg raptor3.jpg raptor4.jpg raptor5.jpg
 
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Are you sure they were larger than Marsh Harriers - 1,3,4 they look rather like female Kestrels to me!
 
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Yes, kestrels, the tail length alone excludes other falcons, size is virtually impossible to judge accurately with flying birds.
 
Well, thats a turn up. Getting confused by kestrels. I suppose that the much larger harriers behind could easily have created the size illusion, especially when looking skyward. Thanks for that everyone. I thought I was going barmy and seeing giant kestrels.
 
cheersm8 said:
Well, thats a turn up. Getting confused by kestrels. I suppose that the much larger harriers behind could easily have created the size illusion, especially when looking skyward. Thanks for that everyone. I thought I was going barmy and seeing giant kestrels.
Click to expand...

Don't listen to the others, Joe, I think they are giant kestrels too.|=)|
 
cheersm8 said:
Either that or the harriers behind were Munchkin Marsh Harriers Chris. :-O
Click to expand...

lol, could be, Joe, maybe you should have got pictures of the Marsh Harriers as well.

But seriously, it is different when you are there seeing it for yourself. You can't get across to people how it "felt", if you know what I mean.

I'm rubbish at IDs (which isn't exactly a secret), but they do look like Kestrels, but they also look a bit bulky to me.
 
I frequently come across "Giant" kestrels as I'm scanning the marshes here at the Dee - they always seem to fool perspective, are closer than you think and actually with their wings open are larger than what people give tem credit for.

Unless natural selection has been given a "leg up" .... what ecological pressure is there around your way so that larger kestrels are "fitter"?
 
bradinho said:
I frequently come across "Giant" kestrels as I'm scanning the marshes here at the Dee - they always seem to fool perspective, are closer than you think and actually with their wings open are larger than what people give tem credit for.

Unless natural selection has been given a "leg up" .... what ecological pressure is there around your way so that larger kestrels are "fitter"?
Click to expand...

I blame a trick of perspective for these Giant Kezzers. They were high up, just over the bank, and a couple of marsh harriers were a couple of hundred metres behind, same level. My addled brain got hoodwinked because the Kestrels were not playing fair, they were soaring, and also gave the illusion of 'fingers' on the wingtips, crafty little beggars. I'm pleased that I posted an ID request, it helped return my sanity ( for a bit, anyway )
 
cheersm8 said:
I blame a trick of perspective for these Giant Kezzers. They were high up, just over the bank, and a couple of marsh harriers were a couple of hundred metres behind, same level. My addled brain got hoodwinked because the Kestrels were not playing fair, they were soaring, and also gave the illusion of 'fingers' on the wingtips, crafty little beggars. I'm pleased that I posted an ID request, it helped return my sanity ( for a bit, anyway )
Click to expand...

Yes, but in the meantime, Joe, these Giant Kestrels remain unknown to science. They rely solely on Humans thinking their size is just a trick of the light (which seems to be quite effective).|=)|
 
ChrisKten said:
Yes, but in the meantime, Joe, these Giant Kestrels remain unknown to science. They rely solely on Humans thinking their size is just a trick of the light (which seems to be quite effective).|=)|
Click to expand...

The scary thing about the giant kestrels Chris, is that it means there are also giant bank voles. :eek!:
 
bitterntwisted said:
Have the Dutch authorities split Giant Kestrel from Near Kestrel yet?

Graham
Click to expand...

Well, if those 'Europeans' can have Lesser Kestrels, why can't we as 'European's due to Politics only' have Giant ones?

Chris, I googled and found this:
Bill Oddie showing remains of a Giant Kestrel kill -

Giant_Kestrel_kill.jpg
 
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