um pahars Posted 21 June, 2012 Share Posted 21 June, 2012 Did I just see a sparrow hawk or a Peregrine Falcon??? Got some bird feeders out on the patio facing Ocean Vilage Marina and get a myriad of birds visiting (Robins, tits, House sparrows, goldfinches, magpies, etc), but just had a wonderful visit by one of the above (unless you lot know different). Thought it was a pigeon at first, but then realised it was some type of hawk/harrier/falcon. Similar length to pigeon but much slimmer/streamline. Grey & brown plumage. Went for the camera but little blighter hopped off the capstain and disappeared!!!!! Any help???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dune Posted 21 June, 2012 Share Posted 21 June, 2012 I had a red kite fly over my garden the other day. Massive wing span, and it caused all the other birds to **** themselves, apart from a jack daw that chased it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buctootim Posted 21 June, 2012 Share Posted 21 June, 2012 Sparrowhawk? http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/s/sparrowhawk/index.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dune Posted 21 June, 2012 Share Posted 21 June, 2012 Sparrowhawk? http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/s/sparrowhawk/index.aspx Sounds like it from his description. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buctootim Posted 21 June, 2012 Share Posted 21 June, 2012 Sounds like it from his description. Yep. Unlikely to be a Peregrine falcon imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
um pahars Posted 21 June, 2012 Author Share Posted 21 June, 2012 Yep. Unlikely to be a Peregrine falcon imo. Initially thought it was a Sparrowhawk, but speaking to brother recently he mentioned that there are Peregrine Falcons nesting in cranes at the docks so got me thinking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buctootim Posted 21 June, 2012 Share Posted 21 June, 2012 Initially thought it was a Sparrowhawk, but speaking to brother recently he mentioned that there are Peregrine Falcons nesting in cranes at the docks so got me thinking. Fair enough, dont think I've ever seen a Peregrine up close. Its perfectly possible about the nesting in the cranes though. A pair have nested at the top of a block of flats in Brighton for years. http://www.youtube.com/user/brightonperegrines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sussexsaint Posted 21 June, 2012 Share Posted 21 June, 2012 Sparrowhawks are very common garden birds and often take a little bird of the feeders or a pigeon off our roof. Brilliant birds and stunning to watch. I've seen one grab a magpie drag it to a puddle and drown it. This is a photo of one in our garden from a while back. Not great but taken on a phone and not my dslr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadgerBadger Posted 22 June, 2012 Share Posted 22 June, 2012 Peregrine's alot greyer with a speckeled chest - they're alot more common than you think, woke up to one last year in my back garden in Hedge End having breakfast with a pigeon, not much left of the pigeon. Don't see any Red Kites down this neck of the woods but round the Maidenhead/Slough corridor 2 a penny. As for Sparrowhawks, I was chatting with my neighbour a few years ago in Bursledon when one of them dived down into a fir tree housing a load of sparrows(funnily enough), loads of squaking later it emerged with one and promptly devoured it in front of us. Bill Oddie me up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gingeletiss Posted 22 June, 2012 Share Posted 22 June, 2012 Yep. Unlikely to be a Peregrine falcon imo. Why not? we had a pair used to make their nest on the top of the floating crane every year. Funny as hogswaggle watching then follow the crane when it was worked, screeching like mad. Definitely Peregrine's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panda Posted 22 June, 2012 Share Posted 22 June, 2012 Why not? we had a pair used to make their nest on the top of the floating crane every year. Funny as hogswaggle watching then follow the crane when it was worked, screeching like mad. Definitely Peregrine's. Because sparrowhawks 'hawk' sparrows and other small birds in gardens using their agility to swoop in unnoticed whereas peregrines make their presence known, get pigeons or jackdaws to fly up in panic and then use speed to take one out of mid air. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Tone Posted 22 June, 2012 Share Posted 22 June, 2012 Peregrines take their prey in the air. Much more likely to be a sparrowhawk on a bird table --always assuming it wasn't just a buzzard, which are by far the most common bird of prey and do feed on carrion and scraps on the ground. You're only likely to see a peregrine on the ground if it is eating a small bird that it has brought down in flight. Sparrowhawk is quite grey and stripey, with bare legs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Tone Posted 22 June, 2012 Share Posted 22 June, 2012 Here is a photo of a sparrowhawk inn my garden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Tone Posted 22 June, 2012 Share Posted 22 June, 2012 (edited) Sorry about that. I'm clearly better at bird-watching than basic IT. Edited 22 June, 2012 by Ken Tone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheaf Saint Posted 22 June, 2012 Share Posted 22 June, 2012 assuming it wasn't just a buzzard, which are by far the most common bird of prey and do feed on carrion and scraps on the ground. True, but the OP said it was about the same size as a pigeon, and buzzards are much bigger than that. Most likely a sparrowhawk IMO. Used to see them in my garden from time to time when I lived in Bitterne Park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecuk268 Posted 22 June, 2012 Share Posted 22 June, 2012 A peregrine looks as if it's wearing trousers as it's plumage extends almost to it's feet. I've got a stuffed one in a glass case (inherited from an elderly relative). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manuel Posted 22 June, 2012 Share Posted 22 June, 2012 You might want to look up 'kestrel', as they are common, but I'm not sure about at your location. Sparrowhawks differ most strikingly because of their piercing yellow eyes and yellow feet. Without a photo or a pretty detailed description I'm afraid you'll struggle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnersaint Posted 24 June, 2012 Share Posted 24 June, 2012 I had a red kite fly over my garden the other day. Massive wing span, and it caused all the other birds to **** themselves, apart from a jack daw that chased it. Brilliant sight seeing these. They kind of fill a similar ecological niche as vultures in Africa and Condors in South America insofar as they are normally carrion feeders than out and out predators. That said about a month ago I saw a pigeon taken out by one in flight early in the morning while walking the dog. The pigeon was absolutely foooked. Had to put it out of its misery before the dog started playing games. Often see them in large numbers when cycling in the Hambleden Valley. Quite disconcerting to see them circling on thermals while you struggle up a stupidly steep gradient hill in the Chilterns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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