BoP confusion

[squishy]

the other day at kingsbury water park i saw a bird of prey, and i'm still unsure what it was. it landed in a tree on the opposite side of the lake, then flew low over the water. i got a pretty good look at it flying and perching through my binocs.

it had the thin pointed wings of a falcon, it was about the size of a kestrel, but its wings and back were grey, and its breast was an orangy brown and it had black bars on its tail.

the only thing i can like that is a merlin. could it have been a merlin, or are there any other suggestions??????

[Jason Green]

Morning Squishster

At the risk of being shot down for stating an unlikely candidate, could it have been a sprawk??

Falconiformes > Acipitridae > Accipiter nisus (A. nisus) - Sparrowhawk

Here's Why:

1. Dark wings

2. Orange (striped) chest

3. Barred tail

You could have taken your new camera!!!

Take care,

Jason

[squishy]

i did have my camera with me, but it was to far away and moving to fast to get a propper shot.

i'm pretty sure it wasn't a spawk, the wings were the completely wrong shape, i have seen spawks in my garden, it definitely wasn't one.

i did consider it, but spawk's wings are to splayed even when tucked in, this one's were very thin and pointed

[Jason Green]

Too far for your 300mm lens?!

Um... I'll keep thinking

[squishy]

lol to far to get a clear pic ye, the sun was behind it, and it was above water, an exposure nightmare. i did get a fairly clear look through my binocs though.

what do you think of the merlin possibility?

[Jason Green]

I suppose it's possible, it's an OK match aesthetically, but merlins are usually associated with heaths and moors. I take it the waterpark you saw it in isn't big enough to support a merlin? I may be wrong, unless it's an Icelandic bird migrating here and stopping en-route to re-fuel??

It'll be good to get someone else's opinion on this

[solus]

Sounds very much like a male Sparrowhawk to me, especially from your description of the size.

[squishy]

the wings were completely the wrong shape.

i really dont think it was a sparrowhawk

[Ruth Daniel]

Spose it could have been a Merlin squishy.......if you've a copy of Collins take a look on page 99 at the comparisson between a Merlin and a Spawk in flight.

[squishy]

i dont have a copy of that i'm affraid, but i've had a look at several pictures of spawks in flight, and none of them are at all like the bird i saw.


i'm not saying it has to be a merlin, i'm just abit confused as to what else it could be

i saw very distinct thin pointed wings, and that does match some merlin pictures i've seen.

i'm still quite confused