Peregrine Falcon Query (1 Viewer)

[RedbournPhil]

Can someone enlighten me - a beginner - on how rare the Peregrine is in Hertfordshire. We had one visit our garden early Christmas morning and being unfamiliar with birds of prey had to look it up in a bird book. All our usual garden birds were keeping well away and did not return until the next day.

I am sure we have had some kind of predator before as on a couple of occasions over a two year span we had found large quantities of feathers from what I suspect were collared doves (regular visitors to us). Earlier we had assumed it was a cat, but now wondering.

Our bird book seemed to indicate that Herts is a less common area, but was rather vague.

 

[Andy Bright]

Hi Phil,
I responded with some detail on your 'hello' thread.
Peregrine are seen in and around Herts, although Beds does a bit better... they are certainly scarce. I still strongly think your bird was a Sparrowhawk... did it have very dark/black patches under the eyes? If not, then Sparrowhawk for sure.
cheers,
Andy

 

[razorsharp]

I would agree, sounds more like typical sparrowhawk behaviour, very unusual for a peregrine to hunt in your back yard.

 

[mike from ebbw]

Hi Phil.Unless it was an escaped falconers Peregrine I would also go for Sparrowhawk.

 

[RedbournPhil]

Thanks all, I have been following up with the advice and I am fairly sure now you are right. What confused me at first was when I looked at some sparrowhawk photos they seemed to have slightly different markings. That turned out to be simply that many photos were of males. I am told the females are bigger (and this was big) and the markings are definitely like my picture.

The very striking V marking on the chest was a little misleading as many photo's I saw were devoid of that.

Ah well, I am new and hope to get better with time.

I also need to figure out the knack of getting better focussing - Winter light makes it harder but also birds in trees with branches sillouetted against a brighter sky can be challenging. Again as I am a novice, I am having to learn fast. Especially when the birds are not very cooperative allowing novices like me plenty of time to prepare.

Thanks or all your help and advice - appreciate it!

I guess I'll have to go seeking a real Peregrine now.

Phil

 

[Blaumeise]

What kind of camera are you using? Try using only a single AF field. This should help with focussing on just the bird and not the busy background.

 

[Ian Bell]

We were all novices at one time Phil.You shall have great pleasure in identifying birds for yourself,as your knowledge expands and thats when the fun,really starts.:t:

 

[IanC_UK]

Hi Phil, i used to live in Markyate and would have loved to see a Peregrine round there Have moved a bit further north, to Northamptonshire, and have resident Peregrines where i am that have been here for about 5 years, and bred every year too is a shame i cant guarantee when they are here they seem to disappear for a few days at a time and then come back, maybe its the Luton/Dunstable sighting ?

Heres one from last year