OMG - just missed a fantastic photo

hashcake

hashcake

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Darran, Daz or ****
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I've just heard a lot of noise coming from the garden.
I thought it was the Starlings grabbing all the bird food again.
I looked out of the window and a huge bird of prey was sat on the fence and of course, I never had my camera to hand.
I'm not sure what it was but it was bigger than a sparrow hawk and a kestrel and had a yellow beak.
I've noticed one has been circling the woods recently and I am really hoping I get to see it again and get a decent shot.
And there was me thinking North London is dull for wildlife.
 
http://www.shropshirefalconryclub.co.uk/wp-content/gallery/harris-hawk-pics/harris_hawk_lrg1.jpg

Staff Edit : Image changed to clickable link. Pictures must not exceed current forum limits as per the rules. Please feel free to replace this with a fresh/resized image and remove this text :)

Was it one of these a Harris Hawk, beautiful birds, usually used by pest controllers. We ofetn get one brought into work to keep the pigeon population down inside the factory as pigeons aren't too fussy where they do their business, can do without it getting in the machinery or ending up on the metal sheets or new panels.
The hawks do like to swoop close over peoples heads though. :lol:
 
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That's the one!
I can identify most Owls and few other birds of prey and although I know I've seen this bird before, I couldn't put a name to it.
Do you know much about them, i.e do they stay in the same area for a long time?
Thanks for your help :)
 
Erm if it is a HH Darran then its either lost or "feral"
They are native to central / Sth America through to Mexico
And as Neil Said popular with pesties and as a hunting hawk
I suggest that you contact the IBR
As someone maybe looking for it

This is "Titch" and he earns his living as a "deterrent" hawk ;)

Titch.jpg
 
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I had a similar scenario a few years ago when a Sparrowhawk killed a Blackbird right in front of my Lounge window and then gave me that "The cameras upstairs" look so now a camera is always in the lounge which is how I got the Sparrowhawk on the fence the other day

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showphoto.php
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Same happened to me, managed to grab my camera and the Sparrowhawk managed to grab a Starling!:shake:
 
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Cobra said:
Erm if it is a HH Darran then its either lost or "feral"
They are native to central / Sth America through to Mexico
And as Neil Said popular with pesties and as a hunting hawk
I suggest that you contact the IBR
As someone maybe looking for it

This is "Titch" and he earns his living as a "deterrent" hawk ;)

Titch.jpg
Click to expand...

The people who usually come into the factory have said in the past they have lost birds who have just plainly flown away, sometimes they do come back so they don't always lose them forever.
Always look forward to seeing birds in the factory though.:naughty::lol:
 
nilagin said:
The people who usually come into the factory have said in the past they have lost birds who have just plainly flown away, sometimes they do come back so they don't always lose them forever.
Always look forward to seeing birds in the factory though.:naughty::lol:
Click to expand...

They are colloquially called the "boomerang bird" lol
**** happens sometimes but its usually the falconers fault for flying them "to heavy" ;)
 
I guess a common buzzard would be your most likely possibility unless your adamant it was a Harris Hawk.
 
Little chickens have yellow beaks........................
 
Cobra said:
Erm if it is a HH Darran then its either lost or "feral"
They are native to central / Sth America through to Mexico
And as Neil Said popular with pesties and as a hunting hawk
I suggest that you contact the IBR
As someone maybe looking for it

This is "Titch" and he earns his living as a "deterrent" hawk ;)

Titch.jpg
Click to expand...

I only saw it for a few seconds but I am sure this is the bird.
Thanks Chris, I will contact them.
Where can I get myself a captive breed Harris Hawk?
If it means the greedy starlings will stay away and leave more food for the blue tits etc, I have to get me one of these!
Do they come in various colours and are they house trained? :D
 
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dinners said:
I guess a common buzzard would be your most likely possibility unless your adamant it was a Harris Hawk.
Click to expand...

Comparing the beaks I don't think it is a common buzzard.
 
wontolla said:
So do Blackbirds! (well, most of them)
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I'm not an expert when it comes to identifying birds of prey but I know they don't look like chicks or blackbirds :D
 
hashcake said:
I'm not an expert when it comes to identifying birds of prey but I know they don't look like chicks or blackbirds :D
Click to expand...

Double glazing CAN magnify things yer know! :D
 
Probably was a female black bird! I think Darran had probably had a few beers!
 
hashcake said:
Where can I get myself a captive breed Harris Hawk?
If it means the greedy starlings will stay away and leave more food for the blue tits etc, I have to get me one of these!
Do they come in various colours and are they house trained? :D
Click to expand...

They are also for sale on the IBR
They don't go for starlings and the like
and are more likely to go for pet rabbits and guinea pigs :D
but other birds do recognise them as predators and Will stay
away,
apart from the corvids ( crows rooks etc) which will mob them.

'fraid the only colours are brown and shades of, and occasionally even
ebony.
Yes they are house trainable but will still crap on the carpet :D
 
Cobra said:
They are also for sale on the IBR
They don't go for starlings and the like
and are more likely to go for pet rabbits and guinea pigs :D
but other birds do recognise them as predators and Will stay
away
Click to expand...


Chris too be honest, I did a lot of research years ago about captive bred birds of prey, in particular Owls.
I'm not against the idea of captive bred but I've come across people in the past who thought they could keep them as a pet only to give them to sanctuary.
People who know how to handle the birds, pest controllers, hawkers etc gain my full respect but the general public thinking they are pets does **** me off.

I'm now intrigued as to why it was sat on the fence, perhaps one of the neighbours has rabbits but I am not aware of any.
Thinking about it, I'm sure the screeching noise I heard was from the hawk.
Anyway, I'd really like to see it again, since I moved from Reading years ago where sparrow hawks and kestrels where often seen in gardens, this is the first one I've actually seen perched in North London.
 
I am pleased to report folks the mystery of what Darran saw has been solved!

Following extensive Police investigations and use of local cctv apparently some youth had stuck this on Darran's fence!
































smallBirds_Crow.jpg
 
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King of Groove said:
I am pleased to report folks the mystery of what Darran saw has been solved!

Following extensive Police investigations and use of local cctv apparently some youth had stuck this on Darran's fence!
































smallBirds_Crow.jpg
Click to expand...


:lol: Clive, 10/10 mate :)
 
hashcake said:
Chris too be honest, I did a lot of research years ago about captive bred birds of prey, in particular Owls.
I'm not against the idea of captive bred but I've come across people in the past who thought they could keep them as a pet only to give them to sanctuary.
People who know how to handle the birds, pest controllers, hawkers etc gain my full respect but the general public thinking they are pets does **** me off.

I'm now intrigued as to why it was sat on the fence, perhaps one of the neighbours has rabbits but I am not aware of any.
Thinking about it, I'm sure the screeching noise I heard was from the hawk.
Anyway, I'd really like to see it again, since I moved from Reading years ago where sparrow hawks and kestrels where often seen in gardens, this is the first one I've actually seen perched in North London.
Click to expand...


Hi Darran
Your respected is duly noted ;)
but the term is "falconer" for longwings (colloquially called "falcons")
or "Austringers" for hawk flyer's ;)

There is no real telling why it was there
May have been resting, may have been mouse hunting, or eyeing up a caged pet ;)
and yes they do screech!
Quite piercing when they are younger ( juvenile feathers
noted as bars or flecks)
or much deeper, almost growl like when older.
 
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Red kites have yellow beaks too.... :thinking:

Still I know the feeling of (almost panic) when you don't have a camera handy and the action is happening *now* :bang:
 
Cobra said:

Yes they are house trainable but will still crap on the carpet :D
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Yeah, BOPs are unruly characters...................:gag:

This b****r sh@t on my kitchen floor.



LEO1.jpg
 
Chris (Cobra), do pest controllers have to fit their birds with radio locators?

OP, did the bird have jesses (leather thongs) attached to its ankles?
 
Nod said:
Chris (Cobra), do pest controllers have to fit their birds with radio locators?
Click to expand...

Its not a legal requirement, Nod,
but most of us do.
 
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