The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Wildlife => Topic started by: Bramblecot on September 19, 2015, 07:26:28 pm
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This little beauty was enjoying the sun perched on the fence rail for 1/2 hour this morning. Is she a sparrow hawk? She only flew away when OH got too close.
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Sorry, I meant to say female kestrel, not sparrowhawk :dunce: . Dark eye, no yellow.
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I don't think it's a bird of prey with that small beak. She also doesn't look very well from the way she's sitting and the half closed eye. But I have to admit I'm not all that expert at identifying birds of prey one from the other. I'm sure someone else will know.
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Nightjar?
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I think it may be a nightjar
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My first thought was also night jar.
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Yes, it's a nightjar. You are so lucky to see it so closely!!
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Thank you all. Never seen a nightjar so I'll go and read up on them ;D
It was a very warm morning and she almost looked asleep - until OH moved near her. She flew off without hesitation so I hope she was just resting.
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Oh good - I thought I was going nuts when my first thought was 'nightjar'. We don't have them round here and I've never seen one in the flesh, so I thought I must be mistaken. I must find out more about them.
Cross posted with Bramblecot.
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Wow! We were lucky :excited: . I'll probably never see one again. We are 1/2 mile from the south coast in Dorset so I like to think she was having a nap before a long flight to warmer climes.
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I don't think it's a bird of prey with that small beak. She also doesn't look very well from the way she's sitting and the half closed eye. But I have to admit I'm not all that expert at identifying birds of prey one from the other. I'm sure someone else will know.
Looking at the online pictures I see the half closed eye and rather subdued look are not illness, just what nightjars look like ::) Silly me !
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Confirmed as Nightjar by Dorset Wildlife Trust. Probably a female or juvenile resting before the migration to Africa.
Apparently they will lay along a branch (or in this case, the fence rail) facing into the sun to avoid casting a shadow whilst they rest during the day. Usually feed on moths at dawn and dusk.