While going through my Birding Diary from the past few months I came across my notes about the Mystery Raptor, and I thought I would post these in the hope that some reader may be able to help identify the bird.
We were on a overnight condolence visit to the Fort of C in South - West Rajasthan, and so Birding was not quite on the agenda, and none of us were carrying binoculars or cameras.
It was late June 2009 and the weather was hot and humid, with the monsoon yet to arrive.
The village around the Fort of C is small, and there is scattered cultivation and a few pockets of trees(mainly Khejri) in typical sandy terrain. The Western horizon is broken up by low and isolated hills. The Fort itself is fairly extensive, but with several sections uninhabited for years.
H had mentioned that he had observed a smallish raptor on most evenings well after sunset, flying around the walls of the Fort, and low over the surrounding village huts and khejri trees.
Just as we were discussing these crepescular habits , the mystery raptor made an appearance at 7:30 pm. With the light fading fast, the raptor started to make quick circles of the Fort. We could clearly observe the narrow pointed wings, longish tail narrowing towards the end,overall dark appearance, powerful neck and head on fairly slim body, flight very quick with continuous flapping of wings, pigeon sized.
It was while I was observing, silhouetted against the Western sky, the erratic flight of a pipistrelle (small bat), another larger object struck it ! The raptor had his prey. We all clearly heard the soft sound of impact, even from over 70 yards.
The raptor (with prey held firmly in its talons) flapped hard to maintain height. It tried to alight on the tops of nearby trees, but was foiled by roosting peafowl already perched on each of them.
As it flew around the Fort and over, we scrambled up to the ramparts, and then to the highest terrace, but lost sight of the raptor.
Much discussion followed about the possible identity and to the possible nesting / roosting sites of the raptor, but it was clear that we did not have enough information to confirm the ID of the species.
I had to leave the next morning.
Luckily the raptor made a rare appearance at 9 am. However, this was just a swift and single flypast almost directly overhead , allowing only a fleeting glimpse of the profile and underparts. H commented that the underbody and underwing were fairly pale with dark markings. I was quite sure I got a flash of yellow on the side of the face - possible eye pouch, bill colour? Upperparts appeared grey.
Same swift flapping flight, narrow pointed wings and long narrow tail.
Later ....
We have had reports and better sightings from C of possibly the same raptor, and we do have a possible ID. If you can pick up on any of the information above and let me have your feedback as to the ID, I would look forward to hearing from you at sahdevsingh2004@yahoo.co.in
We were on a overnight condolence visit to the Fort of C in South - West Rajasthan, and so Birding was not quite on the agenda, and none of us were carrying binoculars or cameras.
It was late June 2009 and the weather was hot and humid, with the monsoon yet to arrive.
The village around the Fort of C is small, and there is scattered cultivation and a few pockets of trees(mainly Khejri) in typical sandy terrain. The Western horizon is broken up by low and isolated hills. The Fort itself is fairly extensive, but with several sections uninhabited for years.
H had mentioned that he had observed a smallish raptor on most evenings well after sunset, flying around the walls of the Fort, and low over the surrounding village huts and khejri trees.
Just as we were discussing these crepescular habits , the mystery raptor made an appearance at 7:30 pm. With the light fading fast, the raptor started to make quick circles of the Fort. We could clearly observe the narrow pointed wings, longish tail narrowing towards the end,overall dark appearance, powerful neck and head on fairly slim body, flight very quick with continuous flapping of wings, pigeon sized.
It was while I was observing, silhouetted against the Western sky, the erratic flight of a pipistrelle (small bat), another larger object struck it ! The raptor had his prey. We all clearly heard the soft sound of impact, even from over 70 yards.
The raptor (with prey held firmly in its talons) flapped hard to maintain height. It tried to alight on the tops of nearby trees, but was foiled by roosting peafowl already perched on each of them.
As it flew around the Fort and over, we scrambled up to the ramparts, and then to the highest terrace, but lost sight of the raptor.
Much discussion followed about the possible identity and to the possible nesting / roosting sites of the raptor, but it was clear that we did not have enough information to confirm the ID of the species.
I had to leave the next morning.
Luckily the raptor made a rare appearance at 9 am. However, this was just a swift and single flypast almost directly overhead , allowing only a fleeting glimpse of the profile and underparts. H commented that the underbody and underwing were fairly pale with dark markings. I was quite sure I got a flash of yellow on the side of the face - possible eye pouch, bill colour? Upperparts appeared grey.
Same swift flapping flight, narrow pointed wings and long narrow tail.
Later ....
We have had reports and better sightings from C of possibly the same raptor, and we do have a possible ID. If you can pick up on any of the information above and let me have your feedback as to the ID, I would look forward to hearing from you at sahdevsingh2004@yahoo.co.in
