I.D. Bird of prey.

Dave66 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-04-2010, 04:55 PM

Hi Guys,

I was out for a walk today along the moss and saw a bird of prey sitting on a telegraph wire. I thought it was a male merlin but when I got closer I could see it 's breast was white with no markings at all. Just to give you an idea of the area it is a peat bog next to heathland which is next to fir tree plantations which is next to the river Add and it is on the shore with a large open sandy bay when the tide is out. We have Peregrines, Merlin's, Hen Harriers and Kestrels all within half a mile of where I saw the bird.
I'm really stuck, I can't even think of a juvenile and the only white breasted bluish backed bird of prey I can think of is the male Hen Harrier but this bird was about the size of a Kestrel, maybe an inch or two longer but no broader.
Hope you can come up with something as It's really bugging me.
Cheers

Dave.

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 11-04-2010, 06:12 PM

What colour was the rest of it? Was it small like a merlin or larger? hard to say, Male harrier sounds similar but would be larger as would osprey. Most other species are barred or streaked, was it a type of falcon? or more buzzard like?

Dave66 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-04-2010, 09:35 PM

Hi Doghound
It was definitely a falcon type and not much bigger than a Kestrel. It's back and wings were very blue in colour, I even thought of a male cuckoo but they are heavily barred aswell. I really don't know what to make of it. It has just occurred to me that there are several falconers in the area, do you think it could be a bird from abroad that is kept by a falconer?

Dave.

Dogghound · #4 (**permalink**) 12-04-2010, 08:41 AM

How sure are you there was no streaking? pretty much all European falcons have streaking on the chest area. Male Merlin also have a pale browny coloured chest as im sure you know. Its very hard to say, Peregrine or merlin would be the likely posibilities. Although there is a size difference between the two and both are streaked. Gyrfalcons from greenland have a pure white front but also have a very pale back and upperside plus they are massive.

Dave66 · #5 (**permalink**) 12-04-2010, 04:40 PM

Hi Doghound

I got quite close to it before it flew off, about 30 yards. I'm sure there were no markings on the breast. Do you think it could be a genetic thing like a white blackbird for example?

Dave.

mickster1978 · #6 (**permalink**) 14-04-2010, 11:46 AM

Hobby???

annies1 · #7 (**permalink**) 14-04-2010, 04:37 PM

Have you tried here: - The RSPB: Bird identifier

It allows you to put size, colour, beak type, area/cover etc. It may help.

aeshna5 · #8 (**permalink**) 14-04-2010, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickster1978

Hobby???

Pretty rare up there + birds are only just appearing in the south in small numbers, so unlikely- also Hobby is heavily streaked on the breast.

ChrisJB · #9 (**permalink**) 15-04-2010, 06:34 PM

How close did you get to it? I only ask as I was watching a male peregrine today on the moors at distince and from afar looked almost white in the breast, I couldn't discern the barring.

Regards, Chris

Dave66 · #10 (**permalink**) 15-04-2010, 09:27 PM

Hi Chris

Definitley not a Peregrine, we have more than one pair round here that I regularly see. This was smaller than the Peregrine. I was only 30 yards from the bird before he flew off. It's got me stumped but no matter how hard I try I can't convince myself there were any markings on the breast. Every time I go past this stretch I have my camera switched on just in case. I would love to get a photo of it.

Dave.