falcon sp. - David Bellamy

ML611096455

falcon sp. Falco sp.

Report

Contributor

Date

Location

Al Udeid Air Base (restricted access)
Ar Rayyan, Qatar
Media from this location Illustrated Checklist
Map
Map Coordinates: 25.120421, 51.323023
Age
Not specified
Sex
Not specified

Observation details

Found twice this evening within a few minutes. An unusual bird, large and with a strange stance when on the ground and rapid-falcon like wing beats, with rather pointed wings. The primary projection was beyond the tail. Some poor quality photos taken on my phone which ruled out the harrier seen here yesterday. When flying I thought it might be carrying a twig or similar but on reflection it will have likely been a falconry jess tied to its legs. While it had the appearance of a Hobby (Falco subbuteo) I have selected Falcon sp. as it was almost certainly a falconer’s bird. I am told that locally falconers rarely, if ever, keep Hobbys, and that there is a lot of interbreeding and odd mixes.

Technical information

Original file size
2.11 MB