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LMAO @ Mclfly

I foresee a Three Banded Courser humping a Dickinson Kestrel in the ear...

@ naomi

Hard to tell from the picture, but I would also consider European Hobby falcon with the dark markings and orange feet.

Thanks for replying adrianp!

Great pity that I do not have a better pic - European Hobby would be a lifer for me!

Naomi, if you could perhaps just enlarge the picture size to say about 500x500 Pixels, then we should be able to make out a bit more detail.

Otherwise, email me the original photo to dotdan2702@gmail.com and I will see if I can turn it into a Euro Hobby for you. I have some doubts as the wing shape looks a tad too big for a Hobby.

I really appreciate your help DotDan! Is this better?

Hi Naomi

Here is my take on why this isn't an Eurasian Hobby and rather a Female Amur Falcon. After I threw the photo in Photoshop and brightened it up, the first thing that stood out was that the cere remained very "orange" where the cere of a Hobby is Yellow.

Another thing, is that there doesn't seem to be any distinct black facial markings like that of an Eurasian Hobby, and then lastly I believe the wing shape is not right for an Euro Hobby.. They have a very pointy, slender wing shape.

Here is the photo that I brightened up for you. I would also like to hear comments from the other birders.

Just to give you an idea of how dark those facial markings really are..

http://www.vdberghimages.co.za/EHobby.aspx

I agree that the shape is wrong for a Hobby. It's tough to see a lot of detail from that photo, but from what I can see I like your call of female Amur.

There are very distinct streakings on the the breast of this bird, very consistent to what I have here on my bird. I wouldn't rule out Eurasian Hobby.



But unfortunately there is just not enough detail to be sure.

As for the wing shape. Amurs also have very pointy and narrow wings. I think the angle of the bird doesn't show the wing shape correctly.

Ja it is a difficult one to give a 100% call on.

Naomi, please email me the original photo, I would like to see if I can zoom in a bit more or get a bit more detail out for you.

Did you see any other Amurs in the area at the time of the sighting, Naomi? Amurs are gregarious and more often than not found in groups.

Will mail the pic to you tonight DotDan - thanks again!

WTM - there were quite a few small raptors flying over the dam that day but could not get a really good look at any of them.

Hi Naomi

From the lightened pictures, the orange cere and the fact there were similar raptors around, I'd agree with WTM, DD and Matt that it is most likely female amur falcon.

Guys, I need your help. I don't recognize this raptor we saw in Augrabies. My closest guess is the Steppe Buzzard?

Our apologies for the quality of the photo's. At this stage we were in desperate trouble since DuQues' camera started giving Error 30 messages after we were SOAKED during a thunderstorm at the falls. It only cleared up after the camera dried out properly in the dry heat of Kgalagadi.







I first though Jackal Buzzard but look at the tail in the first pic. The JB Juvenile doesn't have THAT prominent a band in the tail, does it?

GP, If I had to make a call, I would say this is an immature Jackal Buzzard moulting into its adult plumage. This is also probably the reason why it already has a tail band but still has a pale belly. You can see the black head and chest is coming along as well as the dark wings..