Bird ID please help

shanewillson · #1 (**permalink**) 31-08-2011, 07:31 AM

Have tried to id myself, but at present would need help of more experienced people, as I'm probably way off. I think it may be a Peregrine Falcon, looking at the marking on it's head, if I'm wrong could someone point me in the right direction. Thanks

htcdude · #2 (**permalink**) 31-08-2011, 07:33 AM

Between Peregrine and Hobby, it looks good for Peregrine for me.

Nige

Wild-Woman · #3 (**permalink**) 31-08-2011, 07:36 AM

I'd go for Peregrine. Where did you see it?

shanewillson · #4 (**permalink**) 31-08-2011, 11:05 AM

Thanks for the replies. I also narrowed it down to the Hobby and Peregrine after looking at a fair few Google images and was leaning more towards a Peregrine.

I can enhance it in Lightroom, I may try that for a better image to see if I can find out for sure what it is.

I spotted it at Lopwell in Devon, was looking out for Osprey which have been viewed in the area further down river but hoping to get a sighting at Lopwell. Don't know why I pointed the camera at this bird, but from now on I'll snap everything I see, it's the only way I'll be able to start identifying birds.

Lopwell is a good area for me as it's close to home and I've had a few nice sightings. A little down river I spotted Spoonbills this year, the end of last year I spotted a Bittern BBC - Devon photographer spots bittern at Lopwell Dam You frequently see Kingfishers in the area fishing, one of my goals is to capture a Kingfisher diving fo fish, I have a few images of that but not close or totally clear, due to light conditions. Otters have also been spotted in the area, which I would love to see. Have also seen owls and woodpeckers too,but this was before I had my camera, there are also many dragonflies and damselflies. It's all about being in the right place at the right time I suppose.

Dogghound · #5 (**permalink**) 31-08-2011, 12:54 PM

Juvenile Hobby for me, although its not the best of photo's, for ID.

Harold Smith · #6 (**permalink**) 31-08-2011, 06:26 PM

I agree with Dogghound. A juvenile Hobby.

Harold.

shanewillson · #7 (**permalink**) 13-09-2011, 10:13 AM

Have tried to make the image a little better, does this help? Thanks for ther replies folks.

Adam Cheeseman · #8 (**permalink**) 13-09-2011, 11:39 AM

Definitely a Hobby.

Cheers,

Adam

htcdude · #9 (**permalink**) 13-09-2011, 12:53 PM

I'm giving up ID'ing birds! This must be the tenth one in a row I've got wrong!

Nige

Dogghound · #10 (**permalink**) 13-09-2011, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htcdude

I'm giving up ID'ing birds! This must be the tenth one in a row I've got wrong!

I would'nt worry to much about these kinds of ID's. It is a lot harder IDing a bird in a dodgy photo compared to ones in the field. Everyone gets these wrong from time to time. I find it far easier when I am out in the field and you can see the bird, see how it moves, listen to what sound it makes, see its size. All of these can be very hard to tell on a cropped photo such as this. Its not like you said you thought it was a kestrel or a sparrowhawk you pretty much narrowed it down to two species which can look very similar on photographs. Just keep plugging away at them.