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Post by Pat on Nov 27, 2006 16:31:23 GMT 1
Hi George Sorry not to reply before. That Hen Harrier is much more like the bird I saw. In fact that could well be it for size and it seemed to me that it had a long tail. I note that it appears to fly low when hunting and that was the case here too. As we are only a few miles from North Roe it would make sense. Wow I think I need to start keeping a record of these sightings! Pat
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Post by georgeg on Nov 27, 2006 16:39:42 GMT 1
Congratulations Pat...your one up on me,.the only ones iv seen were on google images...well spotted.. ;D..
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Post by georgeg on Nov 27, 2006 19:14:39 GMT 1
There was a Perigrine Falcon in the Oil Terminal again on Saturday.. ..
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Post by georgeg on Nov 27, 2006 19:17:09 GMT 1
My son was watching two Water Rails in the Crooksetter Burn yesterday..
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Post by georgeg on Nov 28, 2006 12:35:29 GMT 1
Anyone seen any Waxwings this winter?..It was last November I had seven in my garden ,[ three in the bird bath ].. ;D.it was fun watching them.. ..
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Post by maree on Nov 28, 2006 14:56:50 GMT 1
I haven't seen any waxwings so far this year, but I saw one in my sittingroom last year........Da cat brought it in - alive!! I really will have to get her a bell so that the peerie birds can get warning of her approach. She was a wild kitten that my husband caught. Although she no longer depends on hunting for her meals, she still enjoys the sport!!
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Post by georgeg on Nov 29, 2006 16:50:41 GMT 1
Aye Mhay..My daughters cat did the same , when she used to live here.. ;D..and my neighbours cat got one last year, but when I chased it, it dropped it and flew away [ not the cat , the bird] ;D ;D ;D..
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Post by georgeg on Nov 29, 2006 16:51:48 GMT 1
Aye Mhay..My daughters cat did the same , when she used to live here.. ;D..and my neigbours cat got one last year, but when I chased it, it dropped it and flew away [ not the cat , the bird] ;D ;D ;D..
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Post by georgeg on Nov 29, 2006 16:52:58 GMT 1
Sorry for posting twice...
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Post by Pat on Nov 30, 2006 17:41:22 GMT 1
There was a Hen Harrier reported seen in North Roe on the 22 November... Hi George I have been informed that these birds are relatively common in Orkney. I looked them up on the internet and there seems to be a few sightings. How common are they here? www.birdguides.com/birdnews/pictures.asp?f=122202Pat
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Post by georgeg on Nov 30, 2006 19:01:22 GMT 1
Pat..as far as I know, its Marsh Harriers in Orkney, and they are their national bird..but here , they are quite scarce..the Hen Harrier which you saw are scarce throughout Britain...hope Iam right..
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Post by patioman on Nov 30, 2006 19:42:45 GMT 1
Hello Georgeg, I have followed the thread with Pat's mystery bird and it seems most likely it could be an Hen Harrier. The Orkney Isles are the stronghold of Britain for the Hen Harrier and is classed on Shetland as an "m" which means a regular passage migrant, on the other hand a Marsh Harrier is classed as a "V" which means Vagrant. What do you reckon George, do you reckon Pat could have a Hen Harrier May I also congratulate you on the qaulity of the many images you put on this forum, they are excellent and you do a good job of selling Shetland to possible visitors as they peruse this forum.
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Post by georgeg on Nov 30, 2006 19:43:54 GMT 1
Pat.. My son gave me the above information..hope he is right..but he does know his birds..
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Post by patioman on Nov 30, 2006 19:54:11 GMT 1
George, I have looked at the photo you have reffered the forum too, it is a female Hen Harrier, the male is a ghostly white'ish/grey bird. If you ever see one there is no mistaking it, a magnificent bird. I once saw three together at Loch Strathbeg reserve up on the North eastern coast of Scotland, an unforgetable moment on my travels.
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Post by georgeg on Nov 30, 2006 19:57:18 GMT 1
Hi. Patioman..Real glad to see you back..we really need someone with a good background in birds and wildlife like yourself [ to keep me right ]..as Iam a mere amateur..but I do think my son is right..he was watching a pair of Water Rails in a stream at the weekend..and when he was on holiday he visited the RSPB. at muirshield park in Renfrewshire and reported a pair of Water Rails there, and told the rangers. they told him that they had no sighting of them.and appriciated him for informing them..
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