Ben M
Well-known member
Just over a week ago I saw a falcon hovering on my local patch in the same way a kestrel does by motorways. The light wasn't great, but when I had the bins on it I could clearly make out a slate grey coloured upper with largish black band towards the end of its tail and large black tips to the end of it's wings. The only other thing I could make out was the typical markings of the underside of a falcon. No orange/brown was visible on the upper side, but this could have been a result of the poor lighting.
From Collins I've narrowed it down to kestrel or merlin. I've never seen a merlin before (not IDed anyway), but it did look much more like a merlin (from the guide). The only thing worrying me is the typical kestrel-like hovering, so I'm wondering whether anyone else has seen merlins hovering in the same way kestrels do?
I found an old thread about merlins hovering, but not sure whether it fits with a kestrel-like hover.
Also, I'm not sure whether it's important, but the area it was hunting is littered almost entirely with meadow pipits (and these are mentioned in the old thread as possible merlin prey).
Any help is appreciated!
Cheers,
Ben.
From Collins I've narrowed it down to kestrel or merlin. I've never seen a merlin before (not IDed anyway), but it did look much more like a merlin (from the guide). The only thing worrying me is the typical kestrel-like hovering, so I'm wondering whether anyone else has seen merlins hovering in the same way kestrels do?
I found an old thread about merlins hovering, but not sure whether it fits with a kestrel-like hover.
Also, I'm not sure whether it's important, but the area it was hunting is littered almost entirely with meadow pipits (and these are mentioned in the old thread as possible merlin prey).
Any help is appreciated!
Cheers,
Ben.
Last edited: