I saw a small flock of these last week while on holiday near Oban, Scotland. The males were doing their courtship displays, which was nice to see - although not quite up to grebe standard.Originally Posted by Derby Tup
I saw a small flock of these last week while on holiday near Oban, Scotland. The males were doing their courtship displays, which was nice to see - although not quite up to grebe standard.
Lots of folk walking around with hi powered binoculars and Monoculars etc, up the road, Apparently a rough legged buzzard was spotted yesterday???
Tweeters out there(of the bird watching kind) that wants to confirm this.
Cheers for that DT.
Red kite this morning between Macclesfield Forest and Shutlingsloe. I've not seen them round here before.
I'm really jealous Noel! A friend of a friend saw one there a couple of years ago. I've only ever seen them in mid Wales before. It's quite easy to get some raptors mixed up, but there is no mistaking a Red Kite.
Yes, I initially thought "buzzard" as it was soaring about, but then the I noticed the black wing tips and distinctive forked tail. I was quite pleased, so I told the next walkers I saw "I've just seen a red kite down there". I felt a bit like one of my kids when they blurt out something that's important to them, but completely irrelevant to the person they're telling it to, like "I've got a toy tractor at home that's red and blue!". Thankfully, the walkers didn't say "that's nice dear".
Peakland kite - nice work noelly
Poacher turned game-keeper
unknown Raptor...
small and stocky(smaller than a Kestrel)...a bit like a budgie on steroids..First thought was a Hobby but they are swift like and dash around I seem to remember
It was hunting close to the ground, not hovering at all. On looking at my bird book I'm convinced it was a Merlin??? is this possible on the flanks of Bleaklow
It sounds like it from this merlin vs kestrel ID video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbGO8cbig_c . Short and stocky and dashing around sounds about right. They're wider distributed in the winter, so the RSPB says, as Icelandic ones come here.
Nice spot. I don't think I've ever seen one. Or if I have I thought it was something else.
I don't want to hijack the Merlin/ Hobby/Kestral thread of which I'm following with interest but I was quite suprised to see a pair of Dippers following the River Kinder upstream near Kinder Gates. I didn't realise they went that high and was more used to seeing them at a lower level.
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