Gulf of Campeche, Mexico (1 Viewer)

[Aladdin]

Dear Members and Bird Watchers

I spotted this small falcon in the evening at Bay of Campeche near Veracruz, Mexico. I have ID the bird as a Peregrine Falcon as this is the only bird I can find fitting the very very poor pictures.

Picture taken from 50 m with my small Scooby Doo camera and I increased size to double size in Topaz. But it is still very poor.

Is it possible to ID the bird from these substandard pictures?

Kind Regards and Happy Birding
Aladdin

 

[aeshna5]

Very difficult from these poor images. Does Merlin get down there in winter?

 

[KenM]

Might Aplomado Falcon be a candidate for image 1.
Appears to be very long-tailed, albeit having difficulty determining the head pattern?

Cheers

 

[birdboybowley]

Merlin

 

[Butty]

Unlike a peregrine in structure and plumage (eg head pattern). Presumably merlin.

 

[KenM]

Might Aplomado Falcon be a candidate for image 1.
Appears to be very long-tailed, albeit having difficulty determining the head pattern?

Cheers

Think I’ve been “had” on this!, closer inspection reveals I believe, a “contrived piece of construction” intentional or otherwise, with some sort of material wrap round, giving it an avian feel? 😩

 

[lockbreeze926]

The second thumbnail looks fine for Merlin, although when it's clicked, it looks like a muppet.

They certainly winter in Florida and further south.

 

[Butty]

Think I’ve been “had”

I'd relax. I think you're 'fooled' that you've been 'fooled'. The images are of such low quality (no offence) and thus so riven with artefacts that it's impossible to assess their genuineness. But I see no reason to doubt that the 'bird' is a bird.

 

[KenM]

I'd relax. I think you're 'fooled' that you've been 'fooled'. The images are of such low quality (no offence) and thus so riven with artefacts that it's impossible to assess their genuineness. But I see no reason to doubt that the 'bird' is a bird.

Am relaxed about the whole thing Butty.👍

 

[Aladdin]

Dear all!

The bird is sitting on an oil hose crane so it is the hydraulic hoses we can see.

My notes, mKe it a Merlin, except for the white collar.

• buff rump
• White chin/ collar
• darker belly
• black top
• white rim on the tail

The bird look like a merlin but my book dont have white on the chin/collar

Thanks everyone, i will go for merlin. I erased the embarrasing pixtures, but next time i will post the whole pic so we can see how a marine oil hose handling crane looks like.

Kind regards an i appreciate the help very much.

Aladdin

 

[Aladdin]

Hello again,

We have another stire handling crane and i ha 13 cliff swallows landing to spend the night.

Just to show what kind of camwra i have to work wirh i attach 2 pictures. One meter distance and i am less than impressed by the quality. But the birds was not scared

But next time i will bring my bird camer

Kind regards
Aladdin