Raptor i.d. help

[Words]

I saw this absolute beauty fly overhead on the edge of the Sussex Downs today. Obviously not your common or garden raptor, so any help in identifying (saker? gyr?) appreciated.

Thanks

[Jason Green]

Evening Words,

I'd say it's one of the Falco spp. I'm not sure of the exact species, but what a great photo to ask an ID for! I wonder what that trailing cord is, just visible above the left wing?

Take care,

Jason

[Words]

The cord is probably one of those transmitter aerials so that the owner can track it down when it goes off (like today). It was a nice sighting, though the flocks of rooks weren't quite so keen. It was seeing them swirling around that made me look to see what had disturbed them.

[Picidae]

Well this to me looks truly sad sight - it's obviously an escaped falconer's bird and to me looks in terrible condition. The feet appear to be damaged and what you see as a 'transmitter' looks to me like some caught in it's mouth (hook?) and trailing line (if you look closely). I'm not sure what it is exactly but juvenile Barbary or Barbary x Pere could be possible. Judging by it's state, I'd say it had been 'lost' for some time.

I sincerely hope I'm wrong about it's condition, but this does not look like normal feather wear, hopefully some falconers will be able to say more since they will know more about conditions of birds kept in captivity.

[Words]

Picidae, I know very little about these birds, but from what I can see from some of the other shots, the transmitter is fitted on its back. There's also a thin lead coming from one of the the legs fittings. I think these are just normal parts of the equipment. It was chasing birds, disappeared behind some trees and then came back out a couple of minutes later before flying off. I can't work out whether that's a hook on the beak. I'd be interested if anyone knows more about them. On the i.d. I was heading towards saker, but a Barbary looks a good call.

[Foz]

What a sad sight
The locator is normally on one of the main tail feathers. The fearhers look in poor condition, the bill looks over grown, its a sad sight
I think its a pere hybrid, Im sure Colin will comment in detail on this picture.
I guess its a recent pic not one taken a few months ago during its moult?

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by Words

Picidae, I know very little about these birds, but from what I can see from some of the other shots, the transmitter is fitted on its back. ... I can't work out whether that's a hook on the beak.

any chance you could upload the other pics ... I'm still concerned about the apparent poor condition and it would be good to get a clearer shot of the feet and bill. My concern is the jesses have cut off blood supply to the feet and got tangled up round it's toes and undertail coverts. It may have swallowed an angling hook or something - there's a lot of breast feathers apparently missing too.

Again, a view about it's condition from some of the falconers would be appreciated ...when they see this tommorow

[Foz]

Having looked at the pic again, and seeing what I see as a captive bird in very poor condition I will comment no more on this post!

[Words]

A couple more shots. the sighting was today.





I'm fairly sure it was actively hunting. I'll sort out more shots (not as clear but show the transmitter), but may not get them up until the morning.

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by Words

I'm fairly sure it was actively hunting. I'll sort out more shots (not as clear but show the transmitter), but may not get them up until the morning.

Thanks. 'Actively' hunting doesn't necessarily mean it's ok imo .... if it's hungry, it will hunt til it drops. Those feet definitaly look injured to me and it definitely has something in it's mouth that doesn't seem to belong there. Again I hope I'm wrong, if not, there may be a possibility of a falconer being able to lure it and rescue it if you keep in mind the location.