At a rather dull Skinningrove this am, high up above the cliffs I saw what I thought at first was a Peregrine Falcon. However the tail is fully fanned but there are NO gaps at the end of the feathers as normal. Other photos I have taken of Peregrines exhibit rounded finger end type appearance on the tail end with gaps between each feather. This one however has none. No Gaps what so ever.
The Alula left and right show a single feather on photo 3 which is a much enlarged crop of the original. Sorry for the quality but visibilty was poor, and distance was great. All images have been cropped dramatically and lightened to a great extent as it was only a silhouette on the original. Is it a Peregrine or not?
Hi Derick
Might be wrong, but it looks like a Jackdaw to me, you can see the grey head/neck faintly on the first photo and then definitely on the cropped ones.
Cheers
Chris.
Hi Chris, Never thought of Jackdaw at all, but you may well be right. However I have lightened the image a little more below and I thought I could see the yellow above the birds beak as in Peregrine. Jackdaw would be all black here. Also on photo number one you will see the suspect bird is Higher (further away) than the gull but still appears nearly as big. Jackdaws are not that big in comparison are they?
Jackdaws wings look broader to me and the suspect bird has a kick in the wing both sides close to the body that is not exhibited in the Jackdaw I think. The white on the neck made me think of Peregrine rather than the grey of the Jackdaw. But I am not sure by far, that is why I posted it. No doubt the more learned will confirm either road. If you are right then well done and I have learned a little more.
Regards to you Chris.
forgot lightened photo here it is.
Having looked again on my phone, the yellow on the last lightened photo is more obvious and like you say, it looks similar size to the Fulmar in the photo and is probably further away. I'd go with Peregrine, i'm sure someone else who knows better can confirm :p
Cheers
Chris.
Hi again Chris,
I Have spent hours looking at images of Peregrines and Jackdaws in flight and nothing shows similarity with certainty. However last year I found a Dark mutation GYR cross Saker falcon on the cliffs not far from this last photo. Also there are a couple of dark mutation GYR cross Peregrine in the area, I have been told. When I went back over my old photos and looked at the Falcon I found at that time, it is very similar in many ways to the one I saw today. So it may well be one of those. I hoped someone with more knowledge would have cleared it up but time will tell. Thanks for your input.
Derick
just seen this photo 100 % peregrine for me.
Hi Derick,
Jackdaw for me.
To Tim, Thanks for your response however I am still at a loss about the tail feathers (no gaps or rounded edges) even more so when I have checked some of your own photos of Peregrines exhibiting the very same Gaps / Round edges I was talking about. Due to those I am very surprised you fall on the side of the Peregrine.
Hi Damian, you agree with Chris and the Jackdaw.Thanks for your comments. It just shows how opinions can differ even with well established birders. No wonder I have problems. Thanks to you all for your contributions and making the TMBC interesting. Are there any more suggestions?