Hi, I'm going to post a few BOP pics from the last 24 hours, partly to show off and partly for ID help ;)
This first scenario happened this morning - was (very happily) watching a Peregrine Falcon swiftly flying and diving around the place, when it started circling to go higher. It was then joined by a second, smaller BOP, which I initially assumed was its mate but quickly realised wasn't. Managed to get a few snaps, none of them great though, as they circled for about 5 mins. The smaller of the 2 swooped at the Falcon a few times, then moved on and the Peregrine went for a mad dive and disappeared from view a bit after that.
I think the smaller bird is a Brown Goshawk, but in comparison to the Peregrine, the smaller bird looked like a Hobby would compared to a Peregrine (ie quite a bit smaller, slimmer / more streamlined)... Anyone good at ID'ing Goshawk vs Sparrowhawk in flight with crappy photos is very welcome to give me their ideas!! ;)
Hope these post ok, been a while for me... :
Oh goody, they posted ok. Most of them are pretty crappy quality, but I've tried to include a mixture of shots that between them either have better lighting or give an idea of size comparison etc.... Thanks for looking :)
Scott.
Scott
sorry but I can not help
Peter
I love BOP, but I have lots of problems to ID them. I find them fascinating and beautiful, but only know a few. Sorry, can't help you either, sad, isn't it?
M-L
Based on tail shape, I keep coming back to Collared Sparrowhawk for this one..... ???
Scott.
Yeah, Collared Sparrowhawk mate.
Note the squared off tail and much smaller size. A Brown Goshawk would be roughly as big as the Peregrine.
Cheers, Owen.
Awesome! That's what I figured but was only 80% confident. Thanks! :)