Peregrine Falcons are back for the winter

Peregrine Falcons are back at Hanoi and roosting on the higher buildings of the city. But the guy below prefers the fresh air of the countryside; it has chosen an electricity pylon along the Red River, just above my favorite mudflats :((

It's a large bird, so I'm pretty sure it's a female*.

Similar to the one I photographed in January last year (see this post) - note very pale underparts with unbarred belly (barring restricted to flanks and thighs). 

Could it be that this bird is the subspecies calidus ? This subspecies breeds in the Arctic tundra and is completely migratory - very long distance migrant, travels south in winter as far as South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. According to literature, the very similar japonensis subspecies is noticeably darker above, has usually wash pale pinkish breast (pure white breast in calidus), broader moustachials and heavier spotting and barring on the belly and flanks (japonensis show much more extensive barring starting from lower breast, while calidus has more restricted area of barring, mostly at the thighs).

I'd be interested to hear views on this bird.

*well, considering the fact calidus is a large-sized Peregrine, that's merely speculation...

Calidus Peregrine candidate

Hanoi : Peregrine on winter roost

This Peregrine Falcon (race japonensis, calidus?) have taken up winter residence on a high-rise building in downtown Hanoi.

To witness this guy snatching birds above the bustling capital city is a cool sight. More than 10 attacks spotted, 5 of which successful (small passerines, among them 1 Munia sp. identified). After each attack it returns to the same ledge or another one just below.

After photographing and videoing it from the street, I finally found a solution to approach it closer. On the 19th floor, I flushed it when I suddenly appeared 40-50 meters away from its ledge. But surprisingly, only 5 minutes later, it came back around its favorite perch... but did not dare to land. Being convinced that I could not get good shots without hiding myself, I decided to leave the place and come back later with a hide. But as I was packing my photography gear, I realised that it had finally landed and was sitting `quietly` on its prefered ledge.

I moved very slowly, and amazingly it did not flew off. Fifteen minutes later it had almost completely forgot me and was concentrated on its Peregrine's job : bird hunting. I stayed one hour and witnessed 3 - unsuccessful - attacks.

A video clip of this guy. For optimal resolution, please select 480p under Change Quality settings.

Peregrine encounter

In autumn and winter, Peregrine Falcon is a frequent sight at HANOI, especially on the sandbars of the Red River. Photographing this raptor when it is on the ground is a real challenge. I tried many times, but without success. You can crawl 100 or 200 m on the sand like a US Marine - as I did recently with the Black Stork !-, but that doesn’t work with this type of guy, far from being stupid (that doesn’t mean that the Stork is a bloody stupid bird !). Flush distance : between 150 and 200 m, sometimes more. My equipment (400 mm lens) can not allow me to take a worthwhile image from that distance. Digiscoping equipment could be useful for this purpose.

Yesterday, I spotted a Peregrine Falcon sat on a sandbar, but not far from reed beds. Yeah, the opportunity I have waited for a long time ! I walked slowly through the reeds and I approached it at less than 80 m. I took some shots from the edge of the reed beds while remaining hidden one meter inside the vegetation – if not, it would have detected me immediately. I couldn't find a clean "shooting window" through the reeds, but I am really quite satisfied with the result. What a great bird !

Beach Falcons - Hanoi / 13-11-2011

Some news of the Hanoi's Peregrine Falcons. Well, now, there are 3 guys frequenting the sandbars around Vinh Tuy Brigde : 2 adults and an immature. They help me a lot in my morning's waders counting by concentrating all the birds, scattered over several hectares, in 1 or 2 flocks. Exactly like sheepdogs ! The nervous guy on the pic above, obviously smaller so probably a male, harassing both the other adult and the immature.
Not yet spotted hunting scenes there.

The immature in flight

Two days ago, I counted 80-90 Kentish Plovers and 30 Temminck's Stints.

The immature on the sand, near the Red River.
Beach and sun... Wintering at Hanoi, the dream !

Sebastien

Vinh Tuy Bridge/Hanoi 02-11-2011

Few waders around Vinh Tuy Bridge this morning. The level of the Red River is higher than last week so many sand banks are now under the water. The highlights were 20 Kentish Plovers, 4 Common Greenshanks and, particularly, 2 Peregrine Falcons resting on a sand bank in the middle of the river, 30 meters away from a group of 10-15 imperturbable Grey Herons.

The difference of size between the 2 raptors was obvious. Both had blackish upperside and dense dark barring on flanks and belly. After 10 minutes of excellent views with the scope, I saw the male flying up and immediately diving down onto the female, 3 or 4 times, accompanied by a constant kek-kek-kek call. It finally landed 50 meters from her but repeated its dive-“attacks” 15 minutes later... And what about the Grey Herons ? Quietly unconcerned, imperturbable. Zen masters...
As I was trying to approach, the 2 birds flew up, and the male continued its “attacks” in the air.
As for you, could it be display behavior of a resident pair (I am a big dreamer, I know) or just aggressiveness between 2 wintering individuals ? (there were no dead prey around which could explain this)

Sorry for the photo quality, but crap pics are always better than no pics at all !

Sebastien

Peregrine Falcon in the botanical gardens - Hanoi

29/03/11

Quite a few birds in the botanical gardens today, including a perched Peregrine Falcon - a large pale individual, the size of this bird suggests that it is not one that spent the first half of the winter near to Truc Bach lake.

Quite a few migrants are passing through now:
Chinese/Hill Blue Flycatcher 1 male
Taiga Flycatcher 3
Brown Flycatcher 2
Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher 2
Radde's Warbler 1
Pallas's Warbler 1
Yellow-browed Warbler 4+
Unidentified Phylossc 5+

A few winter visitors remained - 1 Chinese Blackbird and a smattering of Olive-backed Pipits, and spring was in the air of the Plaintive Cuckoos at least. There was also a White-rumped Shama in fine plumage in the rattan clump by the toilets. I guess this is an escape. Shamas seem to like this spot, I saw a much scruffier individual in exactly the same place last autumn.

Simon

Red River island - Hanoi 8/03

Today, at noon, short visit at the same patch than last Sunday.
Spotted some new guests :

- 2 Little Buntings perched on dried corn plants
- 1 bulky Peregrine Falcon flying at low altitude and disappearing behind the “forest”
A flock of 15 Red-throated Pipits too. Possible Richard’s Pipit (harsh “tchriiipp” flight call, more strident than Paddyfield) ; but I have 0 experience of this species, need to send an expert to confirm !

The male Pied Harrier exploit a lot this patch, especially the dried corn field. I saw it resting on a ploughed parcel. Perched on a tall bush too. Difficult cohabitation with the local pair of Black-shouldered Kites which don’t tolerate the intrusion.
Really a wonderful bird, and good opportunities of nice photos.

Crap pic of the Buntings, taken from a long distance. Please don't zoom in ;-)

Sebastien

Red River Island - Hanoi

Hi all,

A wander around the Red River Island yesterday (29th February) produced a nice selection of birds including a flock of 6-7 Red-throated Pipits, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Wryneck, 2 Black Bulbuls (white headed race), 1 Light-vented Bulbul, 1 Grey-backed Thrush, 2 Black-shouldered Kites displaying.

Sébastien Delonglée

Spring is finally here. For those Black-shouldered Kites, it's time to start re-thinking about serious things...

Red-throated Pipit, the second pic showing well the streaked rump.

All the birds showed a whitish throat, a warm brown head.