Kestrel?

[O'Dubhain82]

I saw this bird today sitting on a fence post beside a busy road.
It allowed me to get quite close in my van, close enough to get this
photo with my phone.

Is it a Kestrel?

Regards.

2012-01-31 09.46.06 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[PeterB]

Welcome to the forum.

Yes it's a Kestrel, a Female I think (I may get corrected).

[Cassillis]

For some reason I can't connect to the link
Anyone else having a problem?

[Cassillis]

Cancel my last appears to be working now.

Toss up between a Merlin or Kestrel and I'm not sure which.

Someone will be along soon to to put you right.

[Dave Appleton]

Peter was right - it's a Kestrel. Merlin has less reddish brown upperparts and the markings are less obviously barred.

[PeterB]

But Defo a Female Dave?

[O'Dubhain82]

Excellent. Thanks for the replies.

The bird looked a lot less gracefull on the fence post than
where I usually see them - hovering beside motorways.

It looked quite plump actually. I thought it might be a juvenille
but I suppose it's the wrong time of year for that.

[Dave Appleton]

I think juveniles only partially moult in autumn so in their first winter males may (I'm not quite certain off the top of my head) still look much like females. If I'm right then I can't tell whether it's an immature male or a female.

[PeterB]

Thanks Dave, another one for confusion.

O'Dubhain, looked at your photo stream, are they Red Setters? Absolutely fabulous shot.

nmhgfjmf | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[O'Dubhain82]

Thanks. Yes they are Red Setters - that was taken last year when they were
about 2 1/2 and nearly 1.