Hi everyone!
This morning I woke up and while I was inspecting the weather outside my windows I saw a raptor landing over a feral pigeon while a big flock panicked around.
I live in a 6th floor, so by the time I got my camera ready to shoot and some clothes over me; the raptor had disappeared from my sight. I went down the stairs as fast as I could, got to the place where the magnificent hunt had taken place and I just found some scattered feathers.
I almost had a heart attack when while inspecting the bushy area around I saw the beautiful raptor holding on its claws the dying pigeon. It looked at me and then flew away. Obviously I had approached too close and the bird felt threatened. It was a massive mistake on my part and I have not had overcome it yet, feeling utterly useless and out of touch with wildlife. Of course, I was so stunt that I couldn't make a picture of the raptor. I just have some pictures of the still alive pigeon badly mauled; I don't think they are worth posting.
Pigeons in this area are a massive problem. I had to wrap up my balcony with a net and fence up all the ledges with spikes. The buildings look derelict and fooled all around. People every morning feed pigeons with bred and I have never seen pigeons fatter than these ones here in Brixton Hill. My passion for wildlife and particularly birds is beyond any scope and I cannot believe that I have as neighbour a beautiful raptor, chasing feral pigeons all around. I suspect the bird was a Common Buzzard, but I don't discard a Red Kite.
I think I'm not the first one reporting sightings of raptors in the area and I would like to know more info about it. I also would like to know what people think about submitting to Lambeth a program to monitoring prey birds in the borough and probably enhance spaces that could work as corridors and ideal habitat for birds of prey, so we could have a squadron of these magnificent jet fighters cleaning up the sky of pigeons. I am officially the first volunteer to do regular checks, because I'm sure the raptor will come back, this is for sure its territory.
Looking forward to hearing from you guys.
Hi maykef and welcome to the forum
I very much doubt if it was a Red Kite. They are primarily scavengers and I think it highly unlikely it could catch a pigeon. Buzzard too is pretty unlikely in my opinion particularly in an urban area. They don't really chase birds and are more likely to pounce on their prey when it's on the ground like rabbits or rodents.
Here's a photo of Buzzard which landed in my garden scavenging for chicken scraps. This may help to ID it.
I would suspect it's more likely to be a Sparrowhawk or possibly a Peregrine Falcon. Both are expert hunters in the air and quite capable of catching pigeons. Sparrowhawks are quite common even in urban areas and Peregrines are certainly present in certain parts of London. Without a better description it is difficult to suggest which. I suggest you look at these illustrations of Sparrowhawk and Peregrine and see if you can identify it .
Regards TJ
My Flickr photostream
A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song. (Chinese proverb)
I agree with TJ
im wondering if maybe a sparrow hawk but not sure a spartow hawk could carry a pigeon off
Thank you TJ and Andrewa!
Guys I really apreciate your inputs. I must apologise for some grammar mistakes in the previous post; I am not native speaker, so I am sorry.
After seing the picture you posted TJ I have to admit that this is not probably what I saw. After checking your recommendations I think the raptor was a Peregrine. The description, size, eating habits, and illustration (number 4 particularly) are very close.
Do you guys have any pictures of Peregrines?
Hi maykef!
These sites have peregrine photos and might be interesting if you want to get involved.
London Peregrine Partnership
Parliamentary Peregrines
Hi maykef welcome to the forum.
I've just had a look at your profile and see you like taking photos so if you have any to share we would like to see them on the forum..especially if you have any of your homeland.
Regards Alan
My photos are here and here
Hi Doggie!
You've got a bunch of nice pictures. I will try to post some of my amateurish pictures later on.
@ Sue C
I have already written an email to these guys to see how I can get involved.
Thank you for the info.
Alan, you've got some good photos of Sparrowhawks. Why don't you post a couple here so that maykef can see what they look like.
Maykef, no need to apologise for your grammar, it's better than most of ours. LOL. I would like to see some of your photos too.
Here's a couple of a Sparrowhawk when you see them up close they are not much bigger than a Woodpigeon.
It could not be one of these beauties. They are too small. So I guess it was a Peregrine. Although its color was more brown, like if it was a adult female. Can you guys post some more pictures?
The only other photos i can post are of a Buzzard in flight
I agree with doggie and teejay , from the description given Buzzard and Red Kite are unlikely in this scenario. Peregrine and Sparrowhawk are the hot favourites. The brown colour suggest Sparrowhawk rather than Peregrine which is more blue/black than brown.
I'm putting my money on Sparrowhawk.
Peregrine feeding a chick
Buzzards are much larger than either Sparrowhawk or Peregrine.
I know nowt :)
MY Gallery here
Here's a pic of a female Sparrowhawk on a Feral Pigeon, which shows their relative sizes pretty well:
psst, want to see my blog? http://robandmazza.blogspot.com
Aiki
I went to your blog, amazing pictures, particularly those of Reinham marshes. As soon as I have the opportunity and a new lense I'm saving money to buy, I am heading there.
Well, the raptor was pretty much of the size/proportion of the female in your picture Aiki. I thought it was a Peregrine because the sparrowhawk looked a bit small, but the girl above looks pretty much bigger than the poor feral victim.
@ Galatas
Thanks for the input mate, I think I'm concluding that what I saw was a Sparrowhawk, after seen your pictures and Aiki's one.