Beyond Barry Hill (1 Viewer)

[delia todd]

Oh you lucky lad... they're stunning birds aren't they Scoz.

I just love watching harriers hunting!

 

[Scozmos]

Absolutely gorgeous @delia todd couldn't believe it just cruised slowly by, I thought I'd glimpsed it before but now it's confirmed, must keep a camera in every window
Add: I've just realised, I think I've seen a female over the same field in the past, I asked someone about a brown bird of prey with a white patch above the tail ....

 

[Scozmos]

January 18th 2024 - Bird of prey and Corvid - Driving slowly along the lane this morning, due to snow, I spotted a bird of prey above the trees that follow the lane, smallish, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk maybe? Couldn't get a decent look at it until it turned across the fields, away from me, only to be spotted by a Covid that decided it didn't like its presence and proceeded to chase it off.
I grabbed the camera, long lens and started shooting for about 2 minutes, both birds now quite distant but the flying display was fabulous until it became obvious that the BoP was fed up and turned the tables, chasing off and attacking the Corvid. A longer / better lens may have helped but I don't think so.
My point and questions is, what are they? Rook and Sparrowhawk? Raven?







Many thanks in advance

 

[MikeInPA]

Just noticed this tucked away in the bowels of BF.

Nice selection of birds. 👍

 

[delia todd]

Just noticed this tucked away in the bowels of BF.

Nice selection of birds. 👍

Though it's generally pretty high up the Scottish section

Beginning to vie in popularity with the Torry thread (Andrew will have to watch out!!!

 

[Stonefaction]

Think your raptor (vs corvid) looks a lot like a Merlin, Brian. Probably worth cropping in tighter on the birds before uploading - will also reduce file size.

 

[Scozmos]

Just noticed this tucked away in the bowels of BF.

Nice selection of birds. 👍

Cheers Mike 👍. Just been for a Quick Look at your site, like it, I'll take a bit more time later

 

[Scozmos]

Think your raptor (vs corvid) looks a lot like a Merlin, Brian. Probably worth cropping in tighter on the birds before uploading - will also reduce file size.

Thanks Barry, these are already heavily cropped, they were probably a mile ish away 👍

 

[Stonefaction]

Thanks Barry, these are already heavily cropped, they were probably a mile ish away 👍

When looking for an ID/confirmation you are cropping to help to show at least some detail as well as the overall shape of the bird rather than for aesthetic reasons. It is amazing how much detail even a substantial crop (such as these below) can retain and it can make ID-ing easier. Birdforum only lets you zoom in once on a PC so zooming in on your 'crop' doesn't really help much, meaning that anyone who wants to zoom in further has to save your photos and then crop in software to show detail (unless using a phone to view) which is more effort than a lot of people are likely to go to, to answer an ID query on here - unless they want to confirm their own suspicions. Most folk won't. Obviously there are times when cropping further won't help -usually as a result of poor light/distance but not every bird is identifiable at a distance anyway. Posting 'your' crop and 'mine' side by side can also be a helpful option and lead to more answers. As you will be able to see from the cropped photos below the bird is easier identifiable as a Merlin with the large crop.

 

[Scozmos]

When looking for an ID/confirmation you are cropping to help to show at least some detail as well as the overall shape of the bird rather than for aesthetic reasons. It is amazing how much detail even a substantial crop (such as these below) can retain and it can make ID-ing easier. Birdforum only lets you zoom in once on a PC so zooming in on your 'crop' doesn't really help much, meaning that anyone who wants to zoom in further has to save your photos and then crop in software to show detail (unless using a phone to view) which is more effort than a lot of people are likely to go to, to answer an ID query on here - unless they want to confirm their own suspicions. Most folk won't. Obviously there are times when cropping further won't help -usually as a result of poor light/distance but not every bird is identifiable at a distance anyway. Posting 'your' crop and 'mine' side by side can also be a helpful option and lead to more answers. As you will be able to see from the cropped photos below the bird is easier identifiable as a Merlin with the large crop.

Many thanks Barry, I'm just chuffed it's a Merlin, a first for me

 

[Scozmos]

2024 so far .....
It's been quite a busy start to the year up here, without going too far at all. During the first couple of weeks I've spotted both male and female Hen Harriers cruising the fields at the back of the property then, on the 17th I photographed, albeit long distance, a Merlin / Carrion Crow battle, thanks to @Stonefaction for confirmation. The garden was almost overrun on our snowiest days with repeated visits by a Brambling pair, possibly three, one of the females showing a ring but I couldn't get close enough shots for any info.
I've already share some shots above but I'll add a link to my page for the 17th, on of the busiest in the garden so far.
Feeding the 5,000

 

[Scozmos]

Just a Friday afternoon stare down the field.

 

[delia todd]

Nice one.... hope he stays to breed.

You'll have to set up a feeding station and chuck out choice cuts of meat for him....

 

[Scozmos]

There was a pair nesting somewhere nearby last year 🤞

 

[delia todd]

There was a pair nesting somewhere nearby last year 🤞

I'm sure there were, I've seen so many the last couple of years along the Kaims of Airlie Road , round the Castle entrance and right along that road to the double bend.

 

[Scozmos]

Standing outside in my goonie just now, 🥶🥶photographing the full moon going down over Balduff Hill, turned to my right, out over the field and there's the Hen Harrier female flying by

 

[Scozmos]

Having been away and experienced a bit of an Eagle-fest, I thought I'd gather up the BoP experiences up here on the hill, still not fully up to date but a start, hop you don't mind popping over to my pages.

Birds of Prey on the Patch

 

[Scozmos]

Wandered out to the back of the house earlier this evening, just to see what I might see in the hedges and around. Took a look further down the field and spotted a Short-eared owl hunting, been out watching and photographing, will try for better in the morning or tomorrow evening, patch first

 

[Scozmos]

Watched the Short-eared owl again last night, didn't go down there, yet but intending to try to get closer this evening, approx. 200m away!

 

[Scozmos]

March 31st - Spent an hour and a half lurking in the SEO zone last night, not a glimpse! A fox did slink by and a wee Warbler landed so close I couldn't have got a shot unless with my phone so, I trudged home, had a look back with the bins and there it was!!!!!!