Can anyone help resolve an argument please?

[everdream78]

This one has been raging for a couple of weeks now with the OH....

What's the name of the hawk that you always see hovering near motorways etc?

[OverWyreGrower]

Kestrel??

(Dunno really, was the first thing that came into my head)

[piskieinboots]

Red Kite



If this is the one you mean - take a look here, fabulous bird

[tootles]

Trevor
Tx

[Snadger]

I would agree with OWG that around here it's usually the Kestrel!

Found a one with a broken wing last year and took it to the local vet, that's how I know!

[smallblueplanet]

Kestrel.

Be well impressed if red kites were that common!

[piskieinboots]

they are here SBP - I have them flying (gliding!) right passed my office window, they are truly a beautiful sight

[nelliegemini]

If you use the word hover, as opposed to glide then it must be the kestrel, flies into the wind at the same speed as the wind, flaps like mad and goes nowhere!

The male is chestnut with a lovely charcoal grey head, the female is all chestnut. Abiut a foot long with the female slightly larger - on verges looking for voles and mice, tend not to go for little birds.

Archaic name is Windhover.

Mind you, I've seen the Red Kites once when I was on the M40, what a sight - especially when you aren't expecting it and there are loads of them belting around.

[piskieinboots]

....Mind you, I've seen the Red Kites once when I was on the M40, what a sight - especially when you aren't expecting it and there are loads of them belting around.

We are only 6 miles from the M40 here so we are very honoured to have these gorgeous creatures here - we sometimes sit on patio (concrete square!) and have breakfast (when it's warm!!) and watch them glide over us - literally just feet above us.....Amazing

[Flummery]

Saw a kestrel today on the ground on a grass verge - I agree it is the kestrel you've seen, Everdream. It was totally ignoring passers-by and dismembering something for its lunch. When you see them close up they are fantastic colours.

[Polly Fouracre]

Kestrel,without doubt. Red Kites soar,very impressive and seen in Wales,Oxfordshire,sometimes Berkshire but spreading all the time.

[nick the grief]

Sorry to disagree with you all, Tootles is right it's definitely Trevor

Red Kites are spreading all the time, we even get the odd one in Gods County.

[Two_Sheds]

Kestrel !
a falcon, not a hawk, but no I don't know the difference either

[Nicos]

....so who was right everdream?????

[piskieinboots]

my picture was the prettiest