It's not easy to get close enough to a Barbary Falcon (Falco pelegrinoides) for decent photographs, but this morning a combination of stealth and good luck got me to within 50 metres of my subject. This particular bird hunts over an inland territory that contains a large pigeon colony and provides habitat for resident passerines.
It's a rather slim individual, only slightly larger than one of the island's abundant Common Kestrels (Falco tinnunculus canariensis), and must therefore be a male.
First discovered back in October, I have observed this bird several times since then. Initially, identification of the dark silhouette against a bright sky was something of a challenge. The body shape looked right, but the bird seemed too small, compared to other Barbary Falcons I have seen on the island.
According to a 2017 study, there are an estimated 30 breeding pairs of Barbary Falcon (Falco pelegrinoides) on La Palma. The species is difficult to observe since it favours high coastal or inland cliffs for breeding, and spends long periods in inaccessible terrain. However, it often hunts closer to inhabited areas, where feral pigeons form the basis of its diet.
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario
Nota: solo los miembros de este blog pueden publicar comentarios.