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Eagles over my house

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  • 04-05-2007 12:24am
    #1
    skywalker_208
    Registered Users Posts: 1,350 ✭✭✭


    Well i presume they are eagles. There are 4 in total which can be seen from time to time, VERY high up in the sky, kind of gliding around in a circle.. looking at them through the binoculors I can see that they have black underwings with a white jagged strip of feathers on each wing near the tip.

    They sure do spook the crows when they are out! :)

    anyone know what they might be (breed etc) ? Meath Area.....


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    #2
    kyle 327
    Closed Accounts Posts: 41 ✭kyle 327


    I think they are eagles but check out this wedsight:o




    www.hickerphoto.com/eagle-pictures-cat.htm


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    #3
    Alun
    Registered Users Posts: 21,467 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    Have look here and see if you can see what resembles them most.

    http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/families/hawks.asp

    From your description of their flight patterns, the circling and soaring I'd hazard a guess at red kites, but I've honestly no idea if we have them here in Ireland, although they're getting quite common in some parts of the UK. If so, the shape of the tail is a dead giveaway. Maybe someone with more local knowledge could say if they're present here, maybe summer visitors from the UK?

    Could also be buzzards, although your description of the wings doesn't really match.


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    #4
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    Definately Buzzards. I see them in several areas of Louth and Meath. Yor discription of the wings is a little confusing. You did say they were VERY high!
    I record birds in this area and I can assure you they were not Red kites or Eagles. Ospreypass through the area but it's doesn't match with their flight pattern.


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    #5
    Lou.m
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,532 ✭✭✭Lou.m


    WOW you are so lucky maybe you could take pics and post them:) or maybe it is too difficult.

    Enjoy them.


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    #6
    Aimee_gleeson
    Closed Accounts Posts: 118 ✭✭Aimee_gleeson


    We have a hawk or two that is always hovering over the field next to us. We have to watch our lil dogs when they are round cause they are small enough to probably pick them up. But its nice to see them around all the same :)


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    #7
    skywalker_208
    Registered Users Posts: 1,350 ✭✭✭skywalker_208


    no sign of them today, one of the days i saw one enter the airspace of a field up the road a bit and got chased away by 2 smaller birds (hawks possibly? )

    just to clarify though:

    they are either black or brown all over
    At least one has a jagged white band/strip on each wing (underneath - i have only seen them miles up with binoculors, can barely see them with the naked eye)
    when theres 2 about they soar in a circle- just like u see buzzards do in the movies before something dies in the desert :)
    Yesterday i was watching 2 of them and they seemed to take turns at flying into each other - ie mock attacking/playing/etc..

    I would love to get some photos but ill need to wait and see can i get them nearer the ground.. as soon as i do ill post em :)


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    #8
    kyle 327
    Closed Accounts Posts: 41 ✭kyle 327


    at my grandma's house we had these hawks nesting someware in the tall grass:confused: , and then i went down there and found out there were marsh hawks.
    and we found the nest to!:D


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    #9
    8k2q1gfcz9s5d4
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,616 ✭✭✭8k2q1gfcz9s5d4


    They are probably hawks, they are pretty common in ireland. as far as i know there are literaly only a handfull of eagles in ireland....in donegal i think, not fully sure about donegal!


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    #10
    JB1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 59 ✭✭JB1


    The only eagle it could be is the golden eagle, they ahve been re-introduced to Ireland in the past years.
    Check out this website:

    http://www.goldeneagle.ie/


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    #11
    skywalker_208
    Registered Users Posts: 1,350 ✭✭✭skywalker_208


    i havent seen them since that bad weather came back but im still on the lookout. As soon as i can get a decent photo ill post it :)


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    #12
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    Estelle Echoing Beehive wrote:
    They are probably hawks, they are pretty common in ireland. as far as i know there are literaly only a handfull of eagles in ireland....in donegal i think, not fully sure about donegal!
    Just curious, but what do you mean by "hawks"? Sorry if it's slightly OT only many refer to Hawks when in Ireland it covers only a few smaller birds of prey and is not a classifiacation used by birders. DO you mean Buzzards, Harriers, Peregrines?

    Donegal (Glenveigh) is the location of the Golden Eagle re-introduction programme.


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    #13
    8k2q1gfcz9s5d4
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,616 ✭✭✭8k2q1gfcz9s5d4


    im not sure, i only know them as sparrow hawks. ive seen a few of them before, up really high in the air, and then drop to the ground to kill something


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    #14
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    Frank,

    I too would could only call Sparrowhawks "hawks" but many people seem to apply the term to other birds of prey. The Sparrowhawk by nature does not fly high. It patrols the hedgerows and woodland verges looking for prey. I think what you see up high and pouncing is a Kestrel. If it hovers it's a Kestral. Both are MUCH smaller than the Buzzards referred to above.


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