OMG that pair is a set of Falcons

For the last 3 years of living in my new place i seen almost daily a set of birds far far in the distance and way up high in the sky

i always thought they where a pair of tame Hawks kept as pets

i thought this as where i used to see them flying was around about above a local park and they alway flew there in circles

so i thought the owner is proberly flying them for a bit

I have had chicken now for just over a months and since having them i seen this Bird start to fly way up high above my garden

Well Today i got the Fright of my Life and not just for my chicken but for my children

I was out making repairs to the chicken coop so i decided to let them free range as i was gonna be out there with them

my kids came out too as they enjoy playing and chasing the chicken

I told my daughter to watch the chicken as i went into kitchen with has a window that looks onto the back yard

i was standing my the sink looking out the window and to my horror the Bird Now confirmed to be a Falcon Came swooping down

it was only 6 feet in the air and i ran out side and it swooped away

It wasnt frightened of my kids although never has came when i been out there, what if it tryed to grab my kids

now i know it cant lift my kids but it would have seriouly hurt my kids with its talons whilst attempting to


Grrrrrrrrrr im so annoyed now and looks like free range is gonna be minimal

 

Actually after a bit of research and compairing what i saw it could be a Kestral or a Hen Harrier

although still from the falcon family

 

This thing was big

in the sky it looked big and thats why i always thought it was a Hawk

and when it swooped down it looked rather large

and the fact it made an attempt says to me it wants my chicken


kestrels are all over Britain all year round but i must admit in all the years and i'm 31 this is teh first Bird of Prey i seen in UK flying wild

for that matter first pair i seen in my neighbourhood

 

i can see how these birds are small but they are opertunistic and maybe not take my chicken away due to weight but it sure can kill one in an attempt to take it

and the one i saw was big

i would say the size of large bantam chicken

and my pullet has only started laying so around 22 weeks and they are small

and oen breed is a white star which is 19 weeks and fully grown she is ment to be small