apbuild Posted October 16, 2004 Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 Went out for a couple of hours with my partner John today. Set up the pattern, set up the rotary and then shot pigeon number one. Within a few seconds of the pigeon hitting the deck, a kestrell had flown in and proceeded to peck at it. Flew off after a couple of pecks. What a sight to behold. Natures way I suppose! Rob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon master Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 This seems to be happening more often AP, I posted a picture of a kestrel that had just attacked one of my deeks. With the very wet summer I would expect that the field vole population must be at its lowest for many years, and giving that we had a great summer the year before the kestrel population had a big bosst last year, and I guess theres to many kestrels around for the amount of voles this year. Poor little buggars must be getting desperate, I have never known kestrels take carrion but if this happens again I will put placing a pigeon for them a little distance from my pattern. I dont mind giving a kesterl a free lunch. Happy shooting The PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 I will put placing a pigeon for them a little distance from my pattern. I always leave a couple behind... Sow as you shall reape and all that. FM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salopian Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 That is very interesting FM because I also leave a gift when I leave.When rabbit shooting obviously not everything I shoot is edible so I often open it up and leave it to nature.How many more do this and is it wrong? Salopian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vermin Dropper Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 I always do it, where I shoot it's considered to also keep the fox's attention away from the shoot birds, :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aled_cky Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 ive shot a feral with a 410 before.. and as i was in the gorse bush noone could see me, and as the pigeon was still walking it was walking away from me and then suddenly 2 Peregrine's came down and hit it and then took it away. ive seen them souring around a few times now.. but there's only 1 pair and they have young imo. Aled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red_stag88 Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 Can I just ask, do you leave your birds where they fall? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vermin Dropper Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 No, I have regular spots where I drop them, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ossa Posted December 16, 2004 Report Share Posted December 16, 2004 Last year we where out shooting when a kestrel came down and attacked one of our decoy's then flew off. Also this year down in Yorkshire we were shooting woody's, there was about 2 or 3 that we had not picked up, as we waited for a second lot to come in we saw a weasel or stoat drag one of the dead woody's away and down a hole, ...............got to hand it to the little ****** for nerve alone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilishdave Posted December 16, 2004 Report Share Posted December 16, 2004 2 months ago I saw a kestral hit a pigeon mid air, it was quite a sight. It then let the pigeon go when they both hit the deck but the pigeon was quite winded though!! Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millo2 Posted December 17, 2004 Report Share Posted December 17, 2004 I leave the rabbit guts when I shoot them, quite often in the same place, fox bait ya see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul in North Lincs. Posted December 17, 2004 Report Share Posted December 17, 2004 Funnily enough, I was out shooting this morning, and watched an amazaing mid air dog fight between a Kestrel and a starling. The battle lasted for a good minute or so. The olds starling put up a good scrap but surcombed to his tormentor in the end! I've seen them hit sparrows may times, but never anything bigger. Was an excellet viewing........................beats watching the box, anyday! Paul inh North Lincs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crowblaster Posted December 17, 2004 Report Share Posted December 17, 2004 Three times whilst walking my dog I witnessed an mid flight attack and grab by a Kestrel on smaller birds. One was a dove, it made me jump as the attack happened not ten yards in front of me. At first I wasn't sure what it was. The Kestrel chased the bird across my path and then hit the ground, next to a parked car. Immediately bluejays started harrassing it, I though it was just a wounded bird so when I walked around the car to see what it was, there was the bird of prey with a cove in its talons. It immediately took off pursued by the other birds. I also saw a Redtail Hawk attack a dove in midflight, it hit the bird so hard that there was an explosion of feathers. And it all happened within 100 yards of my apartment. On the property I used to shoot on I would always leave something for the local pair of nesting eagles. The "offering" was always gone but don't know if they took it or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted December 17, 2004 Report Share Posted December 17, 2004 With respect I think some of us might be confusing a Kestrel with a Sparrow hawk It is very rare for a kestrel to attempt to kill a bird bigger than a blackbird and even rarer to attempt this in flight. Kestrels generally do not pursue their prey nor attack mid air. Im not saying it doesnt happen but a adult kestrel is not a big bird and it would be risking serious injury to do so. A female Sparrow hawk which could be mistaken for a kestrel by a novice or a juvenile Peregrine is more likely to be seen in aerial pursuit of birds at this time of year. Kestrels will and do eat carrion when furried prey and small birds are scarce and at times of hard frost when there are no insects or worms to be had. What ever it may be.. watch in awe of these wonderful creatures. FM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowman Posted December 17, 2004 Report Share Posted December 17, 2004 i wanna see a kest. any1 with pix plz pm me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted December 18, 2004 Report Share Posted December 18, 2004 Birds of Britain Try this. FM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palombier Posted December 18, 2004 Report Share Posted December 18, 2004 Have to agree with FM on this one. P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crowblaster Posted December 19, 2004 Report Share Posted December 19, 2004 Everything I've read on the Net so far says that the Kestrel will (and does) feed on birds, sometimes in flight. I know it was a Kestrel that attacked those birds in midflight, as I saw it with my own eyes . The literature I've read also calls the Kestrel a Sparrow Hawk. I checked both the American and "European version"...hahaha...sorry, that sounded funny to me. Anyway...not a huge deal. Beautiful birds and I considermyself lucky to have witnessed it, I don't know many that can say the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul in North Lincs. Posted December 20, 2004 Report Share Posted December 20, 2004 Crowstopper The literature you have read is wrong mate. The sparrow Hawk and the Kestrel are two different breeds entirely,although the female of each species can often be mistaken, as Fisherman Mike righlty pointed out ,they at a glance are very similar in appearance. Paul in North Lincs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crowblaster Posted December 21, 2004 Report Share Posted December 21, 2004 American Kestrel/Sparrow HawkAmerican Kestrel/Sparrow Hawk Kestrel/Sparrow Hawk American Kestrel/Sparrow Hawk American Kestrel/Sparrow Hawk American Kesterl/Sparrow Hawk American Kestrel/Sparrow Hawk American Kestrel/Sparrow Hawk American Kestrel/Sparrow Hawk American Kestrel/Sparrow Hawk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiercel Posted December 21, 2004 Report Share Posted December 21, 2004 The common Kestrel is a falcon not a Accipiter as is the Sparrow hawk if you want a site to confirm this try http://www.pauldfrost.btinternet.co.uk/kestrel.html that will show you what a kestrel looks like. If on the other hand you want to see a sparrow hawk have a look at http://www.hawk-conservancy.org/priors/sparrowhawk.htm There is another sparrow hawk and this is where crow blaster may be getting mixed up have a look at http://www.yankeegardener.com/birds/sparrow.htm I think that may clear up any misunderstandings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big dave Posted December 21, 2004 Report Share Posted December 21, 2004 The only birds of prey thats had a go at my deeks are buzzards. They pluck a few feathers from a deek then notice something is wrong and fly off again. :< :o I have seen a hobby having a go at some house martins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kippylawkid Posted December 22, 2004 Report Share Posted December 22, 2004 Aye, must agree with Fisherman Mike. It sound awful like a spuggie hawk or young perrie. I've never seen a kestrel attack in the air, and i've observed these birds for many years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crowblaster Posted December 22, 2004 Report Share Posted December 22, 2004 There is another sparrow hawk and this is where crow blaster may be getting mixed up have a look at http://www.yankeegardener.com/birds/sparrow.htm I think that may clear up any misunderstandings. Mixed up? Misunderstandings? Methinx not. I know what I saw, I was there.I don't have a need to prove I am right. Next yer gonna tell me that I didn't see a redtail hawk attack that dove. :o We can go back and forth showing info to back each of our view points forever. I choose not to. The end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greeneddie Posted December 22, 2004 Report Share Posted December 22, 2004 I was reading this piece and was disturbed to hear about people leaving shot birds out for birds of prey. It is a noble act indeed to assist these great creatures in this way, but your kindness could be killing them! The reason is that lead is VERY poisonous to birds. Just one lead shot consumed by a small hawk (or even by larger ones) is potentially fatal. As well as being new to pigeon shooting (out again tomorrow on the rape fields, I can't wait!) I am an experienced falconer and it is common knowledge in falconry that under no conditions do you feed shot birds/animals to your hawks due to the risk of ingesting lead shot. Even feeding rabbits that have been caught by your own hawk is to be treated with care due to the potential for a rabbit having been 'pricked' by shot earlier in its life. I hope that this advise is of help. Cheers, Eddie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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