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

Raptor ID Please (1 Viewer)

spmontgomery

Well-known member
I wondered why the vicinity was so quiet until this suddenly came out of the bushes, catching me by surprise.

Is it a ........ No, I won't say what I think it is this time!

Shaun
 

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Andrew Whitehouse said:
Initial impression is Goshawk, although I'm a bit hesitant to say for sure from this one picture. Is that what you were thinking?

Well, my first thought was a Sparrowhawk. Can I just make out pale bars on the tail?

Shaun
 
Well-built female Sparrowhawk.
The flanks appear barred (??) rather than streaked -so not an imm. Gos whilst the barring is not the fine barring seen on adult female Gos.

Photographs of birds flying away from the camera like this image always give the impression of a deeper chest & greater bulk. I have a few pics of female Sparrowhawk taken from my garden which resemble this image closely.
 
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Steve,
Your observation on the impression of bigger size when the bird is viewed while flying away from the observer is well taken. My instinctive first guess when I saw the picture was also "goshawk." That and the information volunteered that "it came out of the bushes." I've been taken by surprise by them in that manner quite a few times over the years, here in NE Pennsylvania.
Bob
 
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James Lowther said:
where was it??

goshawk pretty scarce in dorset...

Yes, the last one reported here (locality of Christchurch harbour) was 16th September, having first been spotted on 1st September.

Shaun
 
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