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Any guesses what this raptor is?

Any guesses what this raptor is?


Postby KatTai » Mon Sep 12, 2016 5:48 pm

Spotted on the way up to Glas Maol, Glenshee yesterday. I have a few options but can't convince myself that it is any one of them as certain things just don't seem to match up. So, any guesses? It didn't help that I didn't have my glasses on, I'd have said around kestrel sized (in fact my first thought was kestrel but I had doubts at the time and these more so when looking at the photos).

mystery raptor1.jpg


mystery raptor1cropped.jpg


mystery raptor2.jpg


mystery raptor2cropped.jpg
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Re: Any guesses what this raptor is?

Postby Tom282 » Mon Sep 12, 2016 7:00 pm

First thoughts peregrine falcon.
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Re: Any guesses what this raptor is?

Postby Alteknacker » Mon Sep 12, 2016 7:02 pm

Might be a Merlin. It doesn't really look like a kestrel to me... But quite hard to see from the pic...
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Re: Any guesses what this raptor is?

Postby KatTai » Mon Sep 12, 2016 7:27 pm

Got confirmation elsewhere - peregrine LOL The wings just looked so long! Then again, I haven't seen any peregrines around for a while so maybe I've just became a bit unfamilar with them.
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Re: Any guesses what this raptor is?

Postby KatTai » Mon Sep 12, 2016 8:23 pm

Or maybe not bit of a debate going on now...
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Re: Any guesses what this raptor is?

Postby tawoh » Mon Sep 12, 2016 9:10 pm

it could be either tbh I think its a peregrine looking at the wing shape ....http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/families/falcons.aspx
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Re: Any guesses what this raptor is?

Postby KatTai » Mon Sep 12, 2016 9:19 pm

It's not a merlin or a kestrel, definitely bigger than a merlin and no where near as fast, peregrine looks most likely (given the habitat etc) though some on the birdy site are saying the wings look wrong but I'll let those who maybe know a bit more debate it for a bit lol
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Re: Any guesses what this raptor is?

Postby Skyelines » Mon Sep 12, 2016 11:06 pm

When I first saw the pictures the body to wing ratio and shape made me think of Great Skua.

Then checked the location and thought no maybe not.
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Re: Any guesses what this raptor is?

Postby Caberfeidh » Tue Sep 13, 2016 9:05 am

Peregrine Falcon. We had one at our ship just the other day.There are still pigeon feathers everywhere.
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Re: Any guesses what this raptor is?

Postby David-Main » Wed Sep 14, 2016 4:10 pm

Peregrine :clap:
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Re: Any guesses what this raptor is?

Postby Eliza_33 » Thu Jan 19, 2017 2:41 pm

Hi, new to the forum :) I would have to agree that it's a peregrine falcon. Nice click
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Re: Any guesses what this raptor is?

Postby past my sell by date » Wed Jan 09, 2019 9:20 pm

Hen Harrier?
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