Mystery Bird

[J.T.]

This bird of prey has recently appeared in our local park. We have seen it for about the last 3 weeks, usually in the same place. It's very very tame & we can get so close to it even with all our mad dogs racing around & barking.

It's about the same size as a pigeon, is cream on it's underside, brown on top, darker wing tips. The wings are long & slender & when in flight the bird looks a lot bigger than when perched.

I've looked at loads of bird books & I can't find an exact match.

We have an idea what we think it is but I'll not say yet until you have had a go at identyfying it.

Sorry about the rubbish quality of the pics, I really need a better camera.

So....any ideas?

 

[J.T.]

It drops to the ground as tho eating something but we havn't seen any remains so think it's eating beetles or insects on the floor.

We've never seen it actually hunting & are a bit concerned that it won't be able to cope come winter. Maybe someones escaped bird

 

[davethehorse]

This bird of prey has recently appeared in our local park. We have seen it for about the last 3 weeks, usually in the same place. It's very very tame & we can get so close to it even with all our mad dogs racing around & barking.It's about the same size as a pigeon, is cream on it's underside, brown on top, darker wing tips. The wings are long & slender & when in flight the bird looks a lot bigger than when perched.

I've looked at loads of bird books & I can't find an exact match.

We have an idea what we think it is but I'll not say yet until you have had a go at identyfying it.

Sorry about the rubbish quality of the pics, I really need a better camera.

So....any ideas?

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Probably a Kestral I think??

 

[J.T.]

In flight it looks a lot bigger.

Again sorry about the rubbish pics.

 

[davethehorse]

In flight it looks a lot bigger.
Again sorry about the rubbish pics.

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If its that tame it is probably a tame bird that has got lost, maybe one of those from bird of prey keeper - maybe you ought to ring a Bird of Prey organisation to report it

 

[J.T.]

This bird of prey has recently appeared in our local park. We have seen it for about the last 3 weeks, usually in the same place. It's very very tame & we can get so close to it even with all our mad dogs racing around & barking.It's about the same size as a pigeon, is cream on it's underside, brown on top, darker wing tips. The wings are long & slender & when in flight the bird looks a lot bigger than when perched.

I've looked at loads of bird books & I can't find an exact match.

We have an idea what we think it is but I'll not say yet until you have had a go at identyfying it.

Sorry about the rubbish quality of the pics, I really need a better camera.

So....any ideas?

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Probably a Kestral I think??

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That's what we thought at first but we don't think it is as we've never seen it hovering & close up it 's face doesn't look very "kestrelly"

Could be a young one though who's not learned to hover yet :lol: :lol:

 

[Janimal]

From that back view I thought it looked like a Jay...

but would need to see it in flight.

 

[J.T.]

It's definately not a Jay, although looking at my cr***y pics it could be a penguin or a sparrow :- "

We went again tonight & I got closer than ever but didn't have the camera with me this time.

Where's Bill Oddie when you need him?

 

[midlanderkeith]

is it similar to this

kestrel

 

[midlanderkeith]

:lol:

 

[billyboy45]

:lol:

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That pic minds me of the day my old Megan caught a snipe as it lifted into flight right in front of her,as she was going flat out down a field.She had it by the ass,and as she passed me with it in her mouth,it was flapping mad.I recon it looks like a kestril to Keith.Same shape and the length looks just about right.

 

[J.T.]

(w00t) I hope our bird doesn't do that to our dogs, they'd get a bit of a shock.

It does look very like a kestrel but there is just something about it that doesn't quite look right. I think it's probably a juvenile one who's not got his adult plumage yet. And also not got the hang of hovering either.

We thought it may be a Merlin as they do look very similar to kestrels.

Anyway whatever it is it's a bit too tame for it's own good as if we can get so close to it then so could some :rant: who may harm it. :rant:

 

[meddling]

Sparrow Hawk??

 

[ugottaluvwhippet's]

how very ignorant of it to sit with its back to you. (first pic)

It does look kestrelish but could be any juvenile hawk i think they sometimes have slightly different plumage