Kestrel, Sparrowhawk Or Merlin?

237SJ | 16:02 Tue 16th Feb 2016 | Twitching & Birdwatching

13 Answers

Honey coloured with black wingtips and tail tips. Hovering and getting closer to the ground in stages. Eventually swooped onto a rodent, bit of a scuffle and then it flew off with the prey in it`s claws. I was really lucky to see it as it was only about 15 feet from me.

Migrating British Birds.

Well I Never.

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mazie

Have a look at this link SJ. Might help

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/natureuk/entries/dcd6c3da-9952-40c2-884f-15cfdbabc9bd

hc4361

Where in the UK did you see it?

237SJ

Question Author

Thanks Mazie. I`m leaning towards Kestrel because it was quite small and sparrowhawks tend to catch birds and swoop on them rather than hover and swoop on rodents. Someone once told me that Kestrals carry their prey in the beaks rather than their claws but this one carried it in the claws. The tail tips looked like a Kestrel as well but then again it did look a bit like a Merlin..

237SJ

Question Author

hc - south east, open scrubby land (which makes me think it`s not a Merlin). I wish my Dad was still alive - he was an expert on birds

hc4361

Kestrels carry its prey in its talons, not its beak

hippyhoppy

Nothing to do with your question... but your avatar looks like my little black prince, Perry xx

hc4361

You're in the right place to see a merlin, and it's the right time of year. They are small birds, smaller than the kestrel.

237SJ

Question Author

Have just looked into it some more and Merlin`s don`t hover so it was definitely a Kestral. I wish I had my camera with me. It was so close that I heard it`s feet land on the dead ferns.

hippy - the picture is of my cat who died in December

237SJ

Question Author

*Kestrel*

Thanks for the replies

sweyne58

sounds like a kestrel