What's that bird?
This one has us stumped...
While filming on Mull for tonight's Autumnwatch, one of our cameramen caught this sequence right at the end of the day.
In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit Ö÷²¥´óÐã Webwise for full instructions. If you're reading via RSS, you'll need to visit the blog to access this content.
Ìý
The larger bird is a golden eagle, but who is it being mobbed by? A hobby should have migrated already...could it be a merlin? Or something else?
All theories and expertise welcome!
Comment number 1.
At 4th Nov 2010, WoodsOfFallen wrote:Oooh what a teaser. Could be a Merlin, I don't know enough but I could throw in a guess and say about Gyr Falcons because they hunt things like Ptarmaigan (spelling is wrong I know) and Capercallie which can be seen up Scotland way. *searches through texts frantically*
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
At 4th Nov 2010, WoodsOfFallen wrote:Gyr falcon seems to big though for it actually, and too pale, darn it. It flies more falcony though.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 2)
Comment number 3.
At 4th Nov 2010, SophiEco wrote:Compared to the Golden Eagle, The smaller bird seems to me to be far to big for a Merlin. I agree it is very falcon like (and Fast!)- my best guess would be large (female?) Peregrine.
I have spent some time earlier in the year volunteering with South East RSPB Date With Nature Team at a Peregrine nest site near my home in West Sussex. During this time I have seen Peregrines attacking Large Buzzards and Gulls in a similar manner.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 3)
Comment number 4.
At 4th Nov 2010, Cosper wosper wrote:Hobbies are out to late and not enough food... Merlin's are too wimpish, so a Peregine is most likely.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 4)
Comment number 5.
At 4th Nov 2010, Phoebe wrote:Could be a gyr falcon but I would say a female peregrine.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 5)
Comment number 6.
At 4th Nov 2010, LazyRizzo wrote:I go with peregrine, I saw one in Mull this summer.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 6)
Comment number 7.
At 4th Nov 2010, wildfreckle wrote:I would go with peregrine - we had a peregrine chasing off Frisa, our female sea eagle at Loch Frisa - merlin I would say smaller! my money is on peregrine
Complain about this comment (Comment number 7)
Comment number 8.
At 4th Nov 2010, MR C wrote:i would say its a Peregrine Falcon
can you say hi to pete and jo collins who will be adding twin boys to the famliy tomorrow
Complain about this comment (Comment number 8)
Comment number 9.
At 4th Nov 2010, darren starkey wrote:Has to be a Peregrine
Complain about this comment (Comment number 9)
Comment number 10.
At 4th Nov 2010, David and Clare Pollard wrote:My thought is a peregrine difficult to ascertain size whether male or female depends on sex of eagle. if male eagle then male peregrine and vice versa with females
Complain about this comment (Comment number 10)
Comment number 11.
At 4th Nov 2010, becclesnature wrote:Looks like a late Hobby.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 11)
Comment number 12.
At 4th Nov 2010, philj30 wrote:certainly looks like a perrigrine from the way it's stooping
Complain about this comment (Comment number 12)
Comment number 13.
At 4th Nov 2010, Bry-z-mon wrote:I agree with others. Looks too big to be Hobby Merlin etc. Could be perrigrine. Tail to wing ratios may be out sue to the angle if the bird to the camera.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 13)
Comment number 14.
At 4th Nov 2010, neilandvicki wrote:Surely a male Peregrine. The smaller size, relatively short tail, the season and habitat would suggest a Peregrine.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 14)
Comment number 15.
At 4th Nov 2010, feizor1 wrote:It's a Peregrine Falcon. The bird was far too large to be a Merlin, Hobby or Kestrel even with that camera angle.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 15)
Comment number 16.
At 4th Nov 2010, becclesnature wrote:It's a Hobby the team told us as I informed them as I was there when It was being filmed.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 16)
Comment number 17.
At 4th Nov 2010, keeneyesjohn wrote:Why have all you so called experts(one never having seen a hen harrier before)not even considered this bird to be a young peregrine.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 17)
Comment number 18.
At 4th Nov 2010, lindsay wrote:I think it is a peregrine
Complain about this comment (Comment number 18)
Comment number 19.
At 4th Nov 2010, OllieW wrote:Definitely either a hobby or a peregrine. Most likley a Peregrine.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 19)
Comment number 20.
At 4th Nov 2010, buzzardspotter wrote:i would say its a peregrine falcon as they are fast birds in the sky, one flew past my garden about a while a go after a pigeon it missed it, had a nice view of the bird but never got a camera ready when you need it,
Complain about this comment (Comment number 20)
Comment number 21.
At 4th Nov 2010, crazybirder wrote:Well its definately a falcon, which looks to be about just over a quarter of the size of the Golden Eagle. Since the Golden Eagle has a wing span of about 1.2 m, the falcon's wing span is about 0.65 m which makes it too small to be Peregrine and most likely Hobby too. So i would say it is a Merlin
Complain about this comment (Comment number 21)
Comment number 22.
At 4th Nov 2010, flyingelvis wrote:I recon that the mystery bird is a Merlin but im no expert.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 22)
Comment number 23.
At 4th Nov 2010, Carduus wrote:Size calculation (previously posted by me at Birdforum):
Freezing the video and measuring the wingspan gives about 27mm for the eagle and 8mm for the falcon. Assuming a Golden Eagle wingspan of 210 cm (Collins gives a range of 190-225cm), that works out as 62cm wingspan for the falcon (Range 56-67cm).
Range given for Merlin in Collins is 55-69cm (Peregrine 89-113cm, Hobby 70-84cm, Kestrel 68-78cm). So I think it looks good for Merlin on the basis of size.
Obviously there's going to be a certain amount of uncertainty in this method of size estimation, but it does seem too small for Peregrine. Considering the location / time of year, I'd have thought Hobby was pretty unlikely.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 23)
Comment number 24.
At 4th Nov 2010, CherryBarnOwl wrote:Female Peregrine,I think,show Chris Sperring hes good with BOPrey..very good
Complain about this comment (Comment number 24)
Comment number 25.
At 5th Nov 2010, phil baber wrote:Put this up for discussion on Bird Forum.
Very much doubt this is a Hobby! My personal choice is female Merlin.
But check the above thread for "live" developments...
All the best!
Complain about this comment (Comment number 25)
Comment number 26.
At 5th Nov 2010, Child of Herne wrote:I thought Merlin by size and date although it did look rather narrow winged. Wonder if this could be due to flying in a strong wind. Date and location strange for Hobby or Red Foot and looker rather too small for Peregrine or similar shaped vagrant Eleonoras Falcon. Definitely too small for a Gyrfalcon which is a massive powerful bird.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 26)
Comment number 27.
At 5th Nov 2010, Jenny wrote:I have just seen a Nutcracker. It took me a while to idenify as it wasnt on the RSPB site. Is this an unusual bird for Norfolk.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 27)
Comment number 28.
At 5th Nov 2010, ageranos wrote:The last hobby I've seen in Bedfordshire this year was 26th September.
Your clip definitely looks like a hobby, most interesting.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 28)
Comment number 29.
At 5th Nov 2010, Delticbirder wrote:After watching the Golden Eagle/? fly past, we think after discussion the other bird is a Peregrine.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 29)
Comment number 30.
At 6th Nov 2010, phil baber wrote:"I have just seen a Nutcracker. It took me a while to idenify as it wasnt on the RSPB site. Is this an unusual bird for Norfolk."
Hi Jenny,
Nutcracker is a very rare visitor to anywhere in the UK!
Any more details on where you saw it? Any photos?
Would be a good idea to contact your County Bird Recorder ASAP.[Personal details removed by Moderator]
Regards.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 30)
Comment number 31.
At 7th Nov 2010, phil baber wrote:It seems the Mobber is a Common Kestrel...
Complain about this comment (Comment number 31)
Comment number 32.
At 7th Nov 2010, SeymourAves wrote:Hi-
looking at the scale of the two birds wingspans we seem to be in kestrel or merlin territory. I have ruled out Peregrine on shape- the bird isnt 'hippy' enough IMHO. Merlins often attack (any) large raptor with vigour but this appears to be a passing swipe. The shape of the wings says kestrel to me, the length and proportions arent compact enough for Merlin although I admit the tail tip looks a little square for Kestrel ( it could be foreshortening ). After playing pause and shunt with the clip I'm voting Kestrel
:)
S
Complain about this comment (Comment number 32)