Hawks and Falcons in Dublin

arctan

Ok,

have been trying to ID what to my perspective, is a Falcon of some sort.

I know what Sparrowhawks and Kestrals look like, as I've seen plenty and they usually visit the garden in the winter to help themselves to a pidgeon or starling ....

but what I've seen lately, along the M50 is much larger, about twice the size easily, of a Kestral or sparrowhawk ....

there seems to be two types, one appears to be a Pereguine Falcon, or something very similar, the other a Buzzard ...

now bear in mind I said "appears" (its hard to get a good look when driving 70mph)

what sort of birds of prey would you see around Dublin regularly?

there is one poor unfortunate one that got hit by a car, I can't really get a proper look, but it's huge and is very similar to a Buzzard or Red Harrier ...

any ideas ?

mackeminexile

most probably Buzzard, haven't seen Red Kite, they're pretty distinctive with a forked tail and swept back wings. Female Sparrowhawk look get pretty big

magicbastarder

i've seen buzzards on a couple of occasions around ikea.

cd07

Most likely to be Buzzards theres nearly always a few along the M50. Possibly a Red Kite either as from a distance or glimpse can look like Buzzard

arctan

co-incidentally ... Irish Mail (or possibly independent) had a pull out today on birds of prey in Ireland....

99.9999% the one I've seen regularly is a Buzzard .... and one of the ones I've seen occasionally, is definitely a Red Kite, by the size and v in its tail.

emo72

buzzards are usually easy to recognise due to a bunch of crows getting medieval on their asses. seriously the crows be just crazy.

arctan

hahaha you're actually spot on there, always surrounded or gettin harassed by crows