What is this bird please? (1 Viewer)

[Marino]

Hi.

I saw this bird (ringed) today just outside Brighton, UK. I think that it maybe a juvenile Buzzard but it doesn't seem to marry with the descriptions in my bird guide.

Can someone positively identify?

 

[etudiant]

Looks to be a juvenile Peregrine with prey. Lovely bird and fine shots.

 

[Marino]

Thanks, but isn't it a bit too big for a Peregrine? It was being hassled by some Kestrals (I think ) and they are quite a bit smaller. It was unfortunate that I was taking butterfly pics and only had my 70-200 with me so these are all cropped a fair bit.

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

It's a Peregrine. Nice shots.

Rich

 

[Marino]

Identification points - fingers on wings, black eyes, predominantly black beak, Buzzard like tail, front and rear edge of wings parallel....

 

[etudiant]

Thanks, but isn't it a bit too big for a Peregrine? It was being hassled by some Kestrals (I think ) and they are quite a bit smaller. It was unfortunate that I was taking butterfly pics and only had my 70-200 with me so these are all cropped a fair bit.

The bird in picture #4 seems an entirely different bird, even without noting that it has no prey. It is reminiscent of a Coopers Hawk to me, particularly the rounded tail, but afaik that species is not found in the UK. Any more shots of it?
The size discrepancy you point out is indeed considerable; here in the US a Kestrel is half the size and wingspan of a Peregrine. Assuming the UK equivalents are the same two species, your photos look very illustrative. of that difference.

 

[Farnboro John]

The bird in picture #4 seems an entirely different bird, even without noting that it has no prey. It is reminiscent of a Coopers Hawk to me, particularly the rounded tail, but afaik that species is not found in the UK. Any more shots of it?
The size discrepancy you point out is indeed considerable; here in the US a Kestrel is half the size and wingspan of a Peregrine. Assuming the UK equivalents are the same two species, your photos look very illustrative. of that difference.

The bird in Picture #4 is a Eurasian Kestrel. These are a good bit bigger than American Kestrels.

You can read the colour ring numbers on the Peregrine, so can probably trace it to source?

John

 

[Marino]

Guys, thank you for the identification, The wings of the Peregrine in flight is still throwing me a bit. I take it that it's a female Peregrine due to its size?

Some pics of the mystery bird attached.

 

[MSA]

Post 8 shows Kestrel in the first 4 pics, with the juv Peregrine (female by size) on the fence in the final pic, Kestrel pair mobbing it.

 

[etudiant]

Guys, thank you for the identification, The wings of the Peregrine in flight is still throwing me a bit. I take it that it's a female Peregrine due to its size?

Some pics of the mystery bird attached.

Thank you, just wonderful photos!
The difference between the UK Kestrel and our US namesake are really striking.
Our version is much more nattily decked out, white cheeks, sideburns, rufous back. Ours hunt dragonflies among other insects, as well as somewhat larger prey, does the UK variant do likewise?

 

[Marino]

Etudiant, you're asking the wrong person! I didn't even know that the big bird was a Peregrine. According to John it's a Eurasian Kestral so I may have to pack a bigger lens and pop down there again if the weather keeps up.

Thanks for all your help.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Thank you, just wonderful photos!
The difference between the UK Kestrel and our US namesake are really striking.
Our version is much more nattily decked out, white cheeks, sideburns, rufous back. Ours hunt dragonflies among other insects, as well as somewhat larger prey, does the UK variant do likewise?

That place in the European ecosystem is generally taken by other falcons (Red-footed, Eleonora's, Hobby) with Kestrels tending to concentrate on small mammals (mice, voles etc).

 

[stevo]

Guys, thank you for the identification, The wings of the Peregrine in flight is still throwing me a bit. I take it that it's a female Peregrine due to its size?

Some pics of the mystery bird attached.

Its a kestrel & what makes the tail look odd is its moulting them.

Steve.

 

[Phil Belman]

Marino,

Brilliant pics of the juvenile Peregrine! This bird (AZ orange) was ringed
by me in June as a Nestling Female in Hammersmith, Gr London, and is
the furthest dispersal so far of a youngster from the relatively new
London population.

It's mum, incidentally, was ringed as a nestling in 2007 at Birling Gap
in East Sussex.

Could I ask you (if you haven't already done so) to report the colour
ring sighting to the BTO on www.ring.ac? You will get the full
details through by e-mail from them in a few weeks.

Many thanks!

Phil Belman
Southall, UK / Bryncroes, UK

 

[nmahieu]

Hi Marino,
Thank you so much for your sighting and photos of AZ. She was one of the stars of Simon King Wildlife's Peregrine cam http://www.simonkingwildlife.com/page/live-cams/peregrine-cam-1 and was a big chick almost from the moment she hatched.
If you want to see photos and screenshots as she was growing up: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fabperegrines/
and if you are on flickr please add your photos to the pool: http://www.flickr.com/groups/fabperegrines/
Thank you
Nathalie
FaB Peregrines

 

[James Lowther]

Hi Marino,
you've been getting a bit confused with the responses as your various pix show different birds.

for clarity
post 1 all photos show peregrine

post 3 first photo shows a kestrel, second photo shows a peregrine and 2 kestrels

post 8, photos 1-4 show a kestrel, photo 5 shows a peregrine and 2 kestrels

cheers,
James

 

[June Atkinson]

A wonderful dilemma!

Having just read through the whole of this posting, I am so impressed with the development of the exchanges: a cracking shot of an initially unidentified bird has led to some wonderful information being exchanged.

Birdforum is an excellent platform and folk are so willing to share both info and expertise.

Most of all, how lovely to have this peregrine identified. Phil, this must have made your day!

Marino,

Brilliant pics of the juvenile Peregrine! This bird (AZ orange) was ringed
by me in June as a Nestling Female in Hammersmith, Gr London, and is
the furthest dispersal so far of a youngster from the relatively new
London population.

It's mum, incidentally, was ringed as a nestling in 2007 at Birling Gap
in East Sussex.

Could I ask you (if you haven't already done so) to report the colour
ring sighting to the BTO on www.ring.ac? You will get the full
details through by e-mail from them in a few weeks.

Many thanks!

Phil Belman
Southall, UK / Bryncroes, UK

 

[Boro Birder]

Totally agree with June, excellent how this bird as been identified and as June said Phil must be over the moon, great information

 

[nmahieu]

It didn't only make Phil's day, it made mine and all the people who watched her develop from an egg to taking her first steps into the world.
Have a look at https://www.facebook.com/FaBPeregrines and https://twitter.com/FaBPeregrines it all went a bit mad on Friday

So grateful that Marino was there with a camera and captured her so clearly

Nathalie
FaBPeregrines

 

[Boom]

Fantastic thread, amazing for the hard working volunteers to see their efforts rewarded like this.

A great story

Cheers