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Chuffed but had no camera.

  • 22-10-2010 6:48pm
    #1
    Kess73
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,560 ✭✭✭✭


    Was well chuffed today to see two new birds of prey, well new as in I had not spotted them in the area (Limerick) before.


    A lovely peregrine falcon and a fantastic hobby that was one of the most elegant fliers I have ever seen. It is possible that the hobby was a falconry bird, but there was nobody in sight and it was happily going after some bats that were surfacing.


    I get to see sparrowhawks a number of times each day thanks to my regulars, and I see Kestrels almost every other day either when I am out running or hiking, so it was really cool to see two fresh species today.


Comments

  • #2
    Feargal as Luimneach
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,139 ✭✭✭Feargal as Luimneach


    There was a Hobby on Cape Clear last week, so it's quite possible it was a Hobby. What specific features led you to think it was a hobby?


  • #3
    Kess73
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,560 ✭✭✭✭Kess73


    Feargal as Luimneach wrote: »
    There was a Hobby on Cape Clear last week, so it's quite possible it was a Hobby. What specific features led you to think it was a hobby?



    Had a great view of it as it flew back and forth, often over me, and was following it through a pair of binocs so got to see it in detail.


    As for features, things like it's pure white throat, red pants, it's moustachial stripes, streaked underparts, square tail, and the streamlined wing shape. Plus the fact I have handled quite a few of them (falconry birds back in Liverpool) in the past.:)


  • #4
    Feargal as Luimneach
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,139 ✭✭✭Feargal as Luimneach


    Kess73 wrote: »
    Had a great view of it as it flew back and forth, often over me, and was following it through a pair of binocs so got to see it in detail.


    As for features, things like it's pure white throat, red pants, it's moustachial stripes, streaked underparts, square tail, and the streamlined wing shape. Plus the fact I have handled quite a few of them (falconry birds back in Liverpool) in the past.:)
    Nice one! A super find for the Treaty county:D I wouldn't think there many county records for Limerick. You should text Irishbirding.com about your find and location (if you wish). It would give local birders the oppurtunity to see this fantastic falcon. The contact details are here in this link. http://www.irishbirding.com/birds/web/Display/article/2/
    Forgive my doubting nature:o


  • #5
    Birdnuts
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,805 ✭✭✭Birdnuts


    There was a big influx of Hobby's into the country during the late spring with multiple reports from the East of the country:)


  • #6
    Feargal as Luimneach
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,139 ✭✭✭Feargal as Luimneach


    Kess73,
    Get out today (with your camera) and see if the bird is still there and post a picture for us!


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  • #7
    Kess73
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,560 ✭✭✭✭Kess73


    Feargal as Luimneach wrote: »
    Kess73,
    Get out today (with your camera) and see if the bird is still there and post a picture for us!



    Won't be out there again until Monday, but will be sure to bring the camera with me then just in case.


    Spotted the peregrine falcon again earlier today though when I was out for a run early this morning, not too far from where I spotted it yesterday (different side of town to where I saw the hobby). Mind you going by the number of feral pigeon that I always see in that area it is no surprise to see the falcon two days in a row. I am hazarding a guess that it is a she, and am basing that guess purely on the size of the bird against what it was eating, which seemed to be a feral pigeon. It just seemed too big beside it's prey to have been a male.

    Interestingly it is a stretch on which I see kestrels hovering on a regular basis, but yesterday and today there was not a kestrel to be seen. Guess the kestrels did not fancy being breakfast. :)


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