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Raptor ID

  • 06-03-2013 2:45am
    #1
    cameramonkey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,220 ✭✭✭


    took these photos in Kerry about 6 months ago. Are these peregrines, kestrel or sparrowhawks or some other bird?


    2yyxhmq.jpg

    256epuo.jpg

    2ry39rp.jpg

    the 3 were flying around for about 5 mins before heading off. They seemed pretty small.


Comments

  • #2
    OpenYourEyes
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 3,074 Mod ✭✭✭✭OpenYourEyes


    cameramonkey wrote: »
    took these photos in Kerry about 6 months ago. Are these peregrines, kestrel or sparrowhawks or some other bird?








    the 3 were flying around for about 5 mins before heading off. They seemed pretty small.

    I think they're kestrels - interesting to see 3 together like that.

    Presumably a family! Were they doing anything else? hovering? sitting on trees or lamposts? flying closer to the ground?


  • #3
    cameramonkey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,220 ✭✭✭cameramonkey


    OpenYourEyes wrote: »
    I think they're kestrels - interesting to see 3 together like that.

    Presumably a family! Were they doing anything else? hovering? sitting on trees or lamposts? flying closer to the ground?

    One of them was sitting on a lamp post, that is when I saw it first. I think it was slightly brown but it was very far away. As soon as it took off the other two appeared. They flew around pretty high up for a bit but didnt do any of the hovering that you would normally associated with hunting Kestrels.


  • #4
    cuddlycavies
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 970 ✭✭✭cuddlycavies


    Merlins


  • #5
    cameramonkey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,220 ✭✭✭cameramonkey


    ojl0ep.jpg

    this image is very far away.this is before it took off.


  • #6
    OpenYourEyes
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 3,074 Mod ✭✭✭✭OpenYourEyes


    That last pic looks to be the lighter brown of a kestrel with the black wing tips rather than the very dark brown of a merlin, and from my limited experience of merlins they tend to stay closer to the ground on average than kestrels do!

    Quite a lucky sight to see a family together like that! :)


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  • #7
    cuddlycavies
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 970 ✭✭✭cuddlycavies


    Yep Kestrels


  • #8
    dodderangler
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,204 ✭✭✭dodderangler


    OpenYourEyes wrote: »

    I think they're kestrels - interesting to see 3 together like that.

    Presumably a family! Were they doing anything else? hovering? sitting on trees or lamposts? flying closer to the ground?
    Wouldn't be a family this time if year
    Breeding season is near but not started so not a family
    Possibly two males showing off to female


  • #9
    OpenYourEyes
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 3,074 Mod ✭✭✭✭OpenYourEyes


    dodderangler wrote: »
    Wouldn't be a family this time if year
    Breeding season is near but not started so not a family
    Possibly two males showing off to female

    OP said the pic was taken around 6months ago - possibly a bit later than you'd expect for a family, but still most likely a family!


  • #10
    Kess73
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,560 ✭✭✭✭Kess73


    OpenYourEyes wrote: »
    OP said the pic was taken around 6months ago - possibly a bit later than you'd expect for a family, but still most likely a family!



    Early September/Late August is not really that late in the year to see a kestrel family group to be honest.

    Would see family groups of both kestrel and sparrowhawk into September most years, and last year saw my resident sprawks with quite a late brood so their family group was roaming over my land close to the start of October.


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