Greb147 6,808 Posted May 9, 2020 Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 (edited) Today I saw a pair of what I'm sure were Kestrels making a right din, when I looked up one had a Swift in it's grip. Has anyone seen a Kestrel take a Swift, I don't know if it had caught it in flight but I should imagine it did. I wonder if they may have been Hobbies? Edited May 9, 2020 by Greb147 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
brambles 3,062 Posted May 9, 2020 Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 More likely a Peregrine mate than a Kestrel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Greb147 6,808 Posted May 9, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 Just now, brambles said: More likely a Peregrine mate than a Kestrel Definitely not Peregrine pal. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ringo 13 Posted May 9, 2020 Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 could it have been a Hobby. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Daniel cain 42,804 Posted May 9, 2020 Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 Merlin? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Greb147 6,808 Posted May 9, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 Just now, ringo said: could it have been a Hobby. That's what I'm thinking, they were hard to make out with the sun and were quite a height. I'd say Kestrel is the likely bet tbh. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Greb147 6,808 Posted May 9, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 2 minutes ago, Daniel cain said: Merlin? Possibly. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Greb147 6,808 Posted May 9, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 Has anybody seen a Swift taken on the wing? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pesky1972 4,926 Posted May 10, 2020 Report Share Posted May 10, 2020 Only my opinion, but it could have been a Hobby. Your query took me back over 40 years to the first bird book I ever owned. I’m sure the illustration of a Hobby (no photos back then ) showed it chasing a Swift. Don’t have the book now, but it was this one. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pesky1972 4,926 Posted May 10, 2020 Report Share Posted May 10, 2020 8 hours ago, Greb147 said: Has anybody seen a Swift taken on the wing? Found a clip of one. Stunning, looks hard graft for the falcon. 3 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bell 3,503 Posted May 10, 2020 Report Share Posted May 10, 2020 Kestrel won’t catch/take a swift mate. You sure it was a swift ?.....have seen Hobby taking house Martin and swallows so think your culprit will be a Hobby. About the right time for them as they’ve just returned on migration. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Greyman 25,165 Posted May 10, 2020 Report Share Posted May 10, 2020 Have seen sparrowhawks take them with relative ease, they seem to almost mix with them as they are flying round over water then quite effortlessly pick one out and get on with it 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NEWKID 26,094 Posted May 10, 2020 Report Share Posted May 10, 2020 As said wouldnt be a kestrel, hobby or sparrow halk most probably imo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NEWKID 26,094 Posted May 10, 2020 Report Share Posted May 10, 2020 4 hours ago, pesky1972 said: Found a clip of one. Stunning, looks hard graft for the falcon. Great clip that.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NEWKID 26,094 Posted May 10, 2020 Report Share Posted May 10, 2020 2 minutes ago, W. Katchum said: Still got that book an 3 others like it My go to guide...lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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