What's this bird?

[ninebob]

So there I was on the balcony this morning, minding my own business and having a "traditional english breakfast" (cup of tea and a fag), when I'm joined by this striking creature:

He's beautiful, and not the sort of thing I'd expect to see in a city. (a very nice change from the bl**dy seagulls, anyway!) He seemed very tame as well, happy to just sit there and observe me looking at him, and didn't move when I went in to get the camera and came out again.

2 questions: Firstly what is it? I thought Kestrel at first but he's not quite the same as the results from Google Images. Shaun thinks perhaps Sparrowhawk? And is he an adult or a youngster?

Secondly is there any food I can put out that a) might attract him back but b) won't attract the seagulls?

 

[joe-90]

Looks like Peregrine Falcon to me. He's no-doubt having seagulls for lunch.

He's too tame to be wild and I guess that he's escaped from somwhere.



joe


Oh and how dare you refer to Shaun as a 'fag'.

 

[Glassman]

If he was a captive bred animal, wouldn't he be wearing a coloured ring on his leg? Thats assuming it is a "he"?

 

[JohnD]

Secondly is there any food I can put out

I have reason to believe that he is attracted by the traditional English breakfast.

 

[ninebob]

Secondly is there any food I can put out

I have reason to believe that he is attracted by the traditional English breakfast.

Should I have made him a cuppa and given him a fag?

 

[JohnD]

He was waiting for you to bring the black pudding and fried bread.

 

[pheonix]

Thats a Peregrine Falcon alright, what some bird-watchers like myself would call the fastest bird of prey.
Typical hunting pattern is a very steep and fast dive from a high altitude on its prey, usually pigeons when in a city enviroment. Sheer force of the impact can sometimes kill prey outright.

 

[WoodYouLike]

That's what I would call: a close encounter with Nature!

Beautiful pictures too, Ninebob.

 

[JohnD]

Typical hunting pattern is a very steep and fast dive from a high altitude on its prey, usually a plate of black pudding on the balcony of a flat.

 

[pheonix]

 

[vokera80e]

Seems very tame for a bird of prey.how long did it stay there for?

 

[ninebob]

Seems very tame for a bird of prey.how long did it stay there for?

About 10 minutes. He was quite happy with me sitting there within 3-4 feet of him, and like I said, didn't flinch when I got up and went in for the camera. However, after I took the pics I put my hand out thinking he might just hop on, and at that point he did make his exit....

 

[semi-acoustic]

That is definitely a Peregrine, but it looks as though a taxidermist has been near it !!!

Is this a wind up ??

 

[vokera80e]

That is definitely a Peregrine, but it looks as though a taxidermist has been near it !!!

Is this a wind up ??

Wouldn't have thought so,it's got his head turned in different positions.

 

[ninebob]

That is definitely a Peregrine, but it looks as though a taxidermist has been near it !!!

Is this a wind up ??

Absolutely not! Very much alive and quite attentive - cocked his head and seemed every bit as intrigued by me as I was by him... my friend says because I'm so skinny he was probably trying to work out whether or not he could carry me off!