Bird of prey ID

[colincurry]

I was out at Fen Drayton this morning when I noticed all the wildfowl flying off the water and up into the air.

I then saw the bird below. It was much larger than a kestrel. It was not that high up but flew horizontally over the lake until it suddenly dived in a straight line to perch on a tree across the river. I did try to get closer, but it flew off before I could.

From the description of the wildfowl behaviour and the sudden straight line dive (albeit not for prey), I wonder if this a peregrine?

It was quite dull and cloudy and the bird flew between me and whatever light there was. I have shown jpegs captured from the cropped RAW images and my poor efforts to recover something from these.








Colin

[Pam_M]

Super images given the lighting, Colin! I would go with Peregrine but I am sure someone more experienced will come along soon and ID your bird for you! I bet that was a great sight to see!

[Fieldfare95]

Seems to look more like a kestrel to me.

[Lin Murray]

Hi Colin

From sillouette and 'moustache' which is visable and your description of flight I reckon your spot on with Peregrine
LM

[NicolaB]

Definitely a peregrine...in one of the paler pics you can see the black moustache, plus your description of size and behaviour sounds classic.

[Lance Morgan]

Yes it's a Peregrine

[Ruth Daniel]

Super shots Colin and yes I would go along with P.Falcon too!
In pics 2 & 4 you can clearly make out the moustache!

[colincurry]

Thank you all very much - you have made an old man very happy

Colin

PS This is the first one that I have taken that I have tentatively identified as a peregrine. I have taken one before over my son's garden in Bristol and wrongly tagged it as a hobby until Kestrelman (I think) put me right. Only seen three in all - one was a black dot over Corsica apparently.

[jaykay]

Originally Posted by colincurry

Thank you all very much - you have made an old man very happy

Colin

PS This is the first one that I have taken that I have tentatively identified as a peregrine. I have taken one before over my son's garden in Bristol and wrongly tagged it as a hobby until Kestrelman (I think) put me right. Only seen three in all - one was a black dot over Corsica apparently.

you should be happy, the photo's are really nice, well done

[Andy Warne]

I'm afraid I would go with Kestrel too. The moustache is very weak, on a Peregrine it is part of a dark hood which encloses the eye. Also the tail is too long.