Birds

[Smelly]

I've seen two raptors that look to be the same species in the last couple of weeks but I can't identify 'em. About the size of a Kestrel but all mottled grey back as opposed to the browny colour, pale breast with a distinct dark band right across about a third of the way down their breast. Yellowish beaks but i've not had chance to look at the legs as they've been flying.

 

I've hunted the image galleries looking for an obvious match but to no avail.

 

Saw one at Alvechurch the weekend before last, flew across us about 6 inches of the roof, and another crossed my path on the walk to the station near Earlswood.

 

The yellowish beak would make me think Peregrine but it's not really the terrain for them, and anyways they seem to prefer the City Centre around these parts.

 

I don't think they were pigeons...

[NB Phoenix]

I've seen two raptors that look to be the same species in the last couple of weeks but I can't identify 'em. About the size of a Kestrel but all mottled grey back as opposed to the browny colour, pale breast with a distinct dark band right across about a third of the way down their breast. Yellowish beaks but i've not had chance to look at the legs as they've been flying.

 

I've hunted the image galleries looking for an obvious match but to no avail.

 

Saw one at Alvechurch the weekend before last, flew across us about 6 inches of the roof, and another crossed my path on the walk to the station near Earlswood.

 

The yellowish beak would make me think Peregrine but it's not really the terrain for them, and anyways they seem to prefer the City Centre around these parts.

 

I don't think they were pigeons...

 

 

Could they be Marsh Hairrers RSPB clicky Who has got lost or escaped.

Edited February 2, 2009 by NB Phoenix

[Smelly]

Could they be Marsh Hairrers RSPB clicky Who has got lost of escaped.

 

Wrong colour, deffo grey across the backs of the wings

[Jason Wilson and Family]

Wrong colour, deffo grey across the backs of the wings

 

How about the Buzzard then? http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/...zard/index.asp#

 

[Smelly]

How about the Buzzard then? http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/...zard/index.asp#

 

 

Nah, pale bib, darker strip below on breast. They were a bit small for Buzzards as well

[Jason Wilson and Family]

Nah, pale bib, darker strip below on breast. They were a bit small for Buzzards as well

 

Oops, got it backwards.

 

How about this one? http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/...hleggedbuzzard/

 

 

I'm using the RSPB's bird finder. I may have some of the information wrong but that is the most likely raptor in my results. http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdidentifier/

Edited February 2, 2009 by Jason Wilson and Family

[bottle]

Hen Harrier

 

[carlt]

Hen Harrier

 

I wish! They're very much on the decline.

 

Sounds like an escaped Lanner, possibly:

 

[Rojo]

Could they be Sparrowhawks? The male has a grey back and the size sounds about right. Sometimes see them were we live (on the edge of town). They also tend to fly very close to fixed objects (like your roof).

Edited February 2, 2009 by Rojo

[Dominic M]

Could they be Sparrowhawks? The male has a grey back and the size sounds about right. Sometimes see them were we live (on the edge of town). They also tend to fly very close to fixed objects (like your roof).

And buzz along the tops of hedgerows, diving over to the far side to catch their unwitting prey. Gets my vote.

[Jason Wilson and Family]

It is the dark band on the breast that is throwing me. All the raptors I've found that are close have a scalloped pattern on their breast.

[Smelly]

It is the dark band on the breast that is throwing me. All the raptors I've found that are close have a scalloped pattern on their breast.

 

And me... I'd say Hen Harrier but it was nowhere near the distribution and they're that rare that seeing two in two weeks is beyond the pail.

 

I'll go with Sparrowhawk wouldn't be too difficult to get the bar confused when I'm busy steering. Makes most sense considering their, err, flight patterns and considering how common they are two in two weeks would make sense.

 

Ah well, so much for twitching