Identification please

Peter123 · #1 (**permalink**) 26-09-2009, 05:05 PM

Please could someone help and identify this bird - not a brilliant photo, taken at Mevagissey in Cornwall, with a manual focus lens, late afternoon on 13 Sept.

Many thanks.

Gerel · #2 (**permalink**) 26-09-2009, 05:12 PM

Kestrel aint it?

Jonners · #3 (**permalink**) 26-09-2009, 05:43 PM

Looks like a kestrel to me too

aeshna5 · #4 (**permalink**) 26-09-2009, 06:09 PM

Definitely a Kestrel!

Peter123 · #5 (**permalink**) 26-09-2009, 08:20 PM

Thank you so much.

thebeard · #6 (**permalink**) 27-09-2009, 09:09 AM

if in doubt, the hovering always gives it away!

evilgrayson · #7 (**permalink**) 27-09-2009, 09:13 AM

The hovering doesn't actually give it away - I've seen a buzzard hover, and someone here mentioned seeing a sparrowhawk hover too. It was a bit of a shock to see something with four feet of wingspan being that agile, admittedly, but hovering isn't purely a kestrel thing.

thebeard · #8 (**permalink**) 27-09-2009, 09:41 AM

oh, i always thought it was just kestrels which do. they certainly do it a lot more habitually than other BOPs.although i've not seen other raptors hovering, i think it'd be obvious when it was a kestrel just for their shape and size!

willing to learn · #9 (**permalink**) 27-09-2009, 12:31 PM

Kestrel's are the only Bop that truly hover (hold completely stationery for several minutes or so)others perhaps can give of the impression they are hovering or are hanging on a thermal.
Regards
Colin