Walking in castles my new hobby !

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

To be honest im so confused now i dont know what i saw but it WASNT a kestrel thats all i can safely say.

And i was on the outskirts of the castle estate heading home accross chalky hills...the bird came from my home direction toward the castle....And the falconer had locked up all birds and finisheds the show by the time i left...he only flew an owl and a kestrel as it was way too windy.

Oh well....ill just class it as un identified.
I have seen several hobbies.....Could one still be lingering due to climate change? lets face it.....i drove past a row of seven fully open dafs just now on way to college.,

Dan

Dan, all birders get those birds that get away without a proper ID + it's always frustrating, especially if you feel it could have been something special!

Am I right that you're in Kent- if you are you must get to Harty Ferry/ Capel Fleet on Sheppey- probably best place in south for raptors with good chance of Merlin, Peregrine, Marsh + Hen Harriers, there's currently Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared + Barn Owl. Elmley also worth checking for raptors as well as hoardes of duck, waders,etc.

[Dan Salter]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Dan, all birders get those birds that get away without a proper ID + it's always frustrating, especially if you feel it could have been something special!

Am I right that you're in Kent- if you are you must get to Harty Ferry/ Capel Fleet on Sheppey- probably best place in south for raptors with good chance of Merlin, Peregrine, Marsh + Hen Harriers, there's currently Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared + Barn Owl. Elmley also worth checking for raptors as well as hoardes of duck, waders,etc.

Cheers Aesh but i go to both capel and elmley regularly...Was there last weekend. Saw my first peregrine ( 2) have seen tonne of marsh harriers, hobby in summer, barn owls, kestrel etc etc...So i do know my raptors which is why this bird has thrown me as im still sure it was a hobby ha ha...Incidently the rough legged didnt show when i was there last week. (or maybe weekend before i cant remember)

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

Cheers Aesh but i go to both capel and elmley regularly...Was there last weekend. Saw my first peregrine ( 2) have seen tonne of marsh harriers, hobby in summer, barn owls, kestrel etc etc...So i do know my raptors which is why this bird has thrown me as im still sure it was a hobby ha ha...Incidently the rough legged didnt show when i was there last week. (or maybe weekend before i cant remember)

really don't think it could be a lingering hobby - a brain damaged one with no migration instinct maybe
In my book ( the concise birds of the western palearctic) there is only pink colour (summer range) over the whole of Europe, they winter in southern Africa and I think January is pushing it for lingering this far north of it's winter destination -
my money's on a juv pergrine if it had a nice obvious moustache

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

really don't think it could be a lingering hobby - a brain damaged one with no migration instinct maybe
In my book ( the concise birds of the western palearctic) there is only pink colour (summer range) over the whole of Europe, they winter in southern Africa and I think January is pushing it for lingering this far north of it's winter destination -
my money's on a juv pergrine if it had a nice obvious moustache

I agree Gill it's very unlikely, but there's a report of one in Norfolk for December in the county sightings in latest Birdwatch magazine along with all sorts of migrants that should have been in Africa including various warblers, hirundines, Turtle Dove, etc.

With Hobbies taking small birds they shouldn't starve if they decide to stay.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

I agree Gill it's very unlikely, but there's a report of one in Norfolk for December in the county sightings in latest Birdwatch magazine along with all sorts of migrants that should have been in Africa including various warblers, hirundines, Turtle Dove, etc.

With Hobbies taking small birds they shouldn't starve if they decide to stay.

Really that is interesting..... god who know's what's going to happen over the next few years!!!

Have often wondered by birds bother to migrate when a food source is still present, have never quite figured out either why some of our passerines migrate to Europe to be replaced by those from further north of the same species which presumably utilise the same food resource..... Why do 'ours' decide to move rather than stay and defend?
Perhaps there's some sort of gentleman's agreement

[Dan Salter]

Well both of you have interesting points ! the sky did turn a funny pink colour as the bird flew over me gill? ...hmmm..juv peregrine is a possibility it had a well defined tache but i seem to rememeber the belly spots being vertical not horizontal like a peregrine? are they horizontal in a juv?

But yes im also in this age of climate change not suprised to see anything that shouldnt be here? .......a HUGE bee ( dont ask me what type im not into bees yet) just flew past me and was sniffing around the flowers and daffs that are open on our college grounds !
so im not writing off my hobby i.d...wish i had got a pic ..i bet it was either juv peregrine or hobby like you both say !

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

Well both of you have interesting points ! the sky did turn a funny pink colour as the bird flew over me gill? ...hmmm..juv peregrine is a possibility it had a well defined tache but i seem to rememeber the belly spots being vertical not horizontal like a peregrine? are they horizontal in a juv?

yes the juv's plumage is more verticle than horizontal but I wouldhave thought mostly multed out by now - but I could be wrong I'm not very good on remembering moult periods.......