Raptors in flight (1 Viewer)

[PWG]

I'm looking for a raptor field guide mainly flying as when they are perched I have a better chance of figuring out what they are. I was told there is one available with a lot of flight photographs to help ids. Can anyone help with a title or if they have a favourite worth looking at?

 

[Bubbs]

Most of the guides, like Forsman, collins, and the brilliant little McMillan guides show them in flight from below.

The best way is undoubtedly to see them in the field. Get a cheap flight to Eilat and you'll see thousands every day..given a northerley spring wind.

John.

 

[ta brandreth]

I think you may be thinking of 'Flight identification of European Raptors', unfortunately now dated (its in Black and White), now probably superseeded by the new 'Raptors of the World' plates.
Raptors are a tricky group, best advice, get out and observe in good and bad light, and,most importantly - enjoy them!!

 

[Bubbs]

I think you may be thinking of 'Flight identification of European Raptors', unfortunately now dated (its in Black and White), now probably superseeded by the new 'Raptors of the World' plates.
Raptors are a tricky group, best advice, get out and observe in good and bad light, and,most importantly - enjoy them!!

I'm not sure if the above reply is meant for me, but even the old... Flight Identification of European Raptors, is worth considering in the search for learning. I learned lots from the latter!

I also well remember cold winter evenings pouring and drooling over Wallace's book..the one with the BWP plates in. It only thin but filled with Ian's enthusiam.

John.

 

[Swissboy]

...Eilat and you'll see thousands every day..given a northerley spring wind. John.

Aside from today's political problems that make a trip to Eilat somewhat unattractive, that wind can really be missing most of the time. Have had a number of frustrating days there. Fortunately, there are other places to see. But those raptors would really be the main reason to go again.

 

[Stewart J.]

4. [url="http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0198546610.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg"]http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0198546610.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg[/url] A Field Guide to the Raptors of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa
~William S. Clark, N.John Schmitt (Illustrator)
Oxford University Press
Paperback - September 23, 1999
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Taken from Amazon (am I allowed to do that?)
Not the cheapest but good, spent an afternoon in the authors company on the Via Pontica in Bulgaria this September watching migrant raptors and he was awesome considering we were looking at european raptors and he's an American. Bought the book and the jizz stuff really aids ID's so for me it's worth every penny.

Stewart

 

[ta brandreth]

I am a big fan of this book, I can't remember the title of another good one, it has a Griffon Vulture on the front......
Anyone remember the Leslie Brown book?, also Gensbol's Hamlyn guide, ah the memories!!

 

[ta brandreth]

Checked the bookcase, the 'Griffon' is the Forsman jobby!

 

[RecoveringScot]

A Field Guide to the Raptors of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa

Not the cheapest but good, spent an afternoon in the authors company on the Via Pontica in Bulgaria this September watching migrant raptors and he was awesome considering we were looking at european raptors and he's an American. Bought the book and the jizz stuff really aids ID's so for me it's worth every penny.[/color]

Stewart

I could have done with you as salesman in July:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=37406


My copy is still available - the condition is really very good. The offer still stands to anyone who is interested.

 

[ta brandreth]

Buy this - you'll love it!!
Its a steal at £10 quid!!

 

[Stewart J.]

Sod it, missed your ad I'm in merchant navy so away for 4 weeks at a time otherwise I'd of saved myself 20 quid!

Stewart

PS PWG BUY THIS BOOK!!!!

 

[Bubbs]

Aside from todays political problems that make a trip to Eilat somewhat unattractive, that wind can really be missing most of the time. Have had a number of frustrating days there. Fortunately, there are other places to see. But those raptors would really be the main reason to go again.

Re The wind:

In spring you would be very unlucky to have 'that wind missing most of the time'. I have only known the famous north easterley 'missing' for days in the month of May.

Irrespective of wind direction, a heavy migration of raptors nearly always takes place somewhere over the region. The problem is to locate it. In light Northeasterlies, the migration can be observed over the mountains north west of Eilat, near Ein Netafim. As the thermal upcurrents develop and the birds gain height, the migration slowly drifts eastwards. Most of the birds pass over these mountains during the early part of the day but at noon, or earlier, the stream of birds approaches Eilat and the coast. After noon, nearly always between 13.00 and 15.00 hrs, no migration is visible over the mountains or Eilat. This may be due to the height of the migration during the hottest time of day, but observations have revealed that very large numbers or raptors cross the Gulf of Aqaba, often near Coral Island. These migrations have always been seen in the afternoon and these birds do not reach Eilat at all, but I and others have observed large movements of raptors and storks moving high over North Beach at approx 17.00/18.30 hrs. Perhaps this is the tail-end of the Coral Island movement.

During late afternoon, usually between 15.00/16.00 hrs., raptors and storks can re-appear over the mountains of Eilat in order to find roosting sites. I'ts interesting to note that raptors with medium wing loading ie, Black Kites, etc have been observed flying at great height at first light. Have these birds been flying (flapping) all night?????

I'm sorry that you find Eilat somewhat politically unattractive.

John.

 

[Bubbs]

Can I just bump this up?...thanks.

John.

 

[PaulD]

I was in Israel for 3 weeks this autumn and covered much of the country from the Hula Valley in the north to Eilat in the south.

All the main birding spots are easy to work eg I birded the Eilat area without any hassle whatsoever. Although the news coverage could easily lead to the impression that it's not safe to go birding in Israel, in fact unless you are determined to visit a small number of volatile (essentially non-birding) places it's very safe birding.

Oh and I saw lots and lots of raptors. Sooty Falcons, a big day with 52,000 Lesser Spotted Eagles, a field with 100 Red-footed Falcons etc etc

 

[Swissboy]

Re The wind:

In spring you would be very unlucky to have 'that wind missing most of the time'. I have only known the famous north easterley 'missing' for days in the month of May.

John.

My two visits were both in April. The first time, it was like you described when we arrived. And we missed part of the first day simply because we thought it would be like that during the whole week of our stay. But the wind started to change on the third day, and migration was slow for the rest of the week. On the second visit we did not have a single optimal day for the whole week. But we did observe that shift in migration you mentioned.

 

[Markp]

go to Elat

Aside from today's political problems that make a trip to Eilat somewhat unattractive, that wind can really be missing most of the time. Have had a number of frustrating days there. Fortunately, there are other places to see. But those raptors would really be the main reason to go again.

Go to Elat despite any perceived political problems only stay away if security problems.

 

[PWG]

Thanks for all your advice I'll be looking to check out some of the books to see which I like. Thanks again.

Paul.