BOP ID If poss please

[bodshi]

Sorry, this is a long shot and no pictures. Today when out with the dog we were excited to see a buzzard (we only started to see them in the area last summer and haven't seen one for a while) being mobbed by a crow. The crow eventually turned back but the buzzard flew past an electricity pylon and disturbed another BOP which flew after him with fast wing beats making a very angry, harsh Ka-Ka-Ka-Ka sound. It was smaller than the buzzard, probably about crow sized and I thought maybe it was a large female kestrel because we've seen them perched on the pylons before. However, we watched it return to its perch and a little while later it took off and started circling and soaring, with a few fast wing beats between each soar. It circled higher and higher for some time before flying off. I've never seen a kestrel do this and I have to say it did seem quite big - but then I do find it difficult to judge the size of moving birds. If it helps we live in an area of flat open fields dotted with small woods and hedgerows.

BTW we also saw a green woodpecker, two hares, linnets and a whitethroat (I think) - a lovely day!

[aeshna5]

The flap, flap,glide suggests it may have been a Sparrowhawk + given the size a female, though still smaller than a Crow.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

The flap, flap,glide suggests it may have been a Sparrowhawk + given the size a female, though still smaller than a Crow.

I'd agree with this

[Picidae]

Could be Sprawk but call description sounds much better for an alarming Kestrel. Sparrowhawks loose height on the glide (hence the undulating flight) and the bird described wasn't gliding but soaring, so flap flap glide flight pattern doesn't really come into play in this instance. Kestrels like other raptors gain height by using thermals and a combination of a few wing beats, so description doesn't rule out a Kestrel imo. (Slightly more usual for Kestrel to use open perch hunting techniques and to be seen on pylons for any length of time but again, doesn't exclude Sparrowhawk although generally they prefer to perch hunt from a more concealed position or chase, smash and grab!)

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Picidae

Could be Sprawk but call description sounds much better for an alarming Kestrel. Sparrowhawks loose height on the glide (hence the undulating flight) and the bird described wasn't gliding but soaring, so flap flap glide flight pattern doesn't really come into play in this instance. Kestrels like other raptors gain height by using thermals and a combination of a few wing beats, so description doesn't rule out a Kestrel imo. (Slightly more usual for Kestrel to use open perch hunting techniques and to be seen on pylons for any length of time but again, doesn't exclude Sparrowhawk although generally they prefer to perch hunt from a more concealed position or chase, smash and grab!)

I have frequently on warm days seen sparrowhawks doing the flap flap glide in a circle while 'soaring' up in a thermal.

[bodshi]

Ok, thanks all. We have seen kestrels on the pylons before but there are sparrowhawks about too - in fact it is on my 'wanted' list to see a female as I have only seen males so far. Went out hoping to see the buzzard or the other bird again this evening but no sign (surprise surprise!)

[daffy66]

does sound like a sparrow hawk.the kestrels at old moor use the pylons as vantage points and the sprawks definitely soar as you described there too not just on warm days either any sort of day when theres a good breeze to taken them up.

john

[Adam Cheeseman]

Sparrowhawk by the sounds of it. They love thermalling like most other BoPs.

Cheers,

Adam