Raptor Southern Spain (1 Viewer)

[dram7]

Which raptor appears at dusk to hunt swifts in Andalucia. Limited knowledge suggests Hobby.

 

[stevo]

Hobby I would have thought.

Steve.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

I've seen Lesser Kestrels do this in towns

 

[eddy the eagle]

I can't say that I have seen this myself and resident hobbies appear to be thin on the ground.In my town we have many lesser kestrels and many swifts but I have never seen one hunting the other......Eddy

 

[tconzemi]

I can't say that I have seen this myself and resident hobbies appear to be thin on the ground.In my town we have many lesser kestrels and many swifts but I have never seen one hunting the other......Eddy

Maybe you shold add Peregrine to the list of suspects

 

[Tony Morris]

I have seen a Sparrowhawk chasing Swifts here, in fact our only Pallid Swift went after such an attack.

 

[rosbifs]

could also add Eleanoras at this time of the year....

 

[dram7]

Thanks. Not peregrine. Have to lean towards Eddie the Eagle's local knowledge. Not familiar with lesser kestrel. I always assumed hovering as home kestrels. These have fast wingbeats and then glide. Only saw one kill but a few attempts.

 

[Kevin Wade]

Personally, the only raptor I have seen hunting and catching swifts is Eleanoras Falcon, which pass through this area in May/June, with some young birds staying till autumn around Monda/Coín, to the north of Marbella.

 

[eddy the eagle]

Having checked back through some notes I remember seeing swallows mobbing a sparrowhawk one evening whilst flying over my house,so maybe the sparrowhawk was hunting the swallows and swifts that appear most evenings......Eddy