-
Hello Ladybird, I see no reason at all why it couldn't have been a hen harrier! Juvenile and female hen harriers are known colloquially as 'ring-tails' on account of the horizontal bars (or rings) on the tail feathers. However, unless seen well, it is difficult to tell them apart. Juveniles...
-
Hi Pauwen Not as a general rule but raptors can be as opportunistic as anything. It may have come across a recent casualty and was waiting for the coast to become clear before getting a free meal. It could, equally, have been disturbed while dining on its own kill, perhaps by a Fox ,and retired to a...
-
Can anyone help me I have downloaded google earth to watch the progress of the loch garten ospreys but I can not find out to trace them. Can you help please John
-
I'd call it hovering but they do need a bit of headwind to pull it off. In completely still air they'd need to create a lot of downdraft (like a helicopter) to hang in the air and they're not really powerful enough for that. I once saw a falconer try to demonstrate hovering with a young female...
-
The feet of birds of prey have evolved in this way, as they are essential for killing and carrying their prey. Along with their beaks, these are “the” weapons for dispatching their prey and so ensuring the birds survival! The sizes of the raptors feet do give a good indication of what type...