“That cloud biting anchor shape, that crossbow flying through the air” is how J.A.Baker describes peregrine falcons in his book Peregrine. Today was only the second time I have seen a peregrine falcon in Shropshire, and this was far more exciting than its being Halloween today! The photographic quality is not great, but it was circling very high up, and the image below is of course greatly zoomed in order to show the identifying facial marks.

Nationally, peregrines are doing well in the UK, but I had to have my sighting confirmed by others more expert. I now know that the “parallel lines” of the wings (very obvious in the image above) are a good clue, as is the facial “moustache” (the stock image below shows this beautifully):

And the yellow legs were also a clue (just about visible in another cropped image below):

Apparently the “falcon” part of its name derives from a Latin word “falx” meaning “sickle”, the shape of many falcons, even though peregrines have straighter wings, as already explained.

How do you know if you’ve seen one? Both times I have seen peregrines in Shropshire they have been circling very high up, but they are clearly bulkier and stockier than sparrowhawks who often behave in a similar way, and who also have longer tails. The peregrine’s tail is pretty short as the third photo shows well. And they are much more compact than the commoner buzzards, who are usually very obviously big birds with very long wings; the peregrine’s wings, like its tail, are also shortish and compact.

Peregrines are a protected species, so unfortunately I cannot reveal either of the two locations where I have seen them.

But if you ever see something circling smoothly in huge circles overhead effortlessly, and its not a big long-winged buzzard, and its not a small long-tailed sparrowhawk, then you never know, it might be a peregrine! With a decent zoom and cropping you might then be able to just get enough definition to see some of the other identifying marks to confirm your hunch.

As a much more experienced birdwatcher said to me – “any peregrine day is a good day”!