Raptors (Birds of Prey)

Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus
The Sparrowhawk is a common sighting over the site. They can be seen flying low over the pits or high in the sky. Off site at the north pit a male bird can be seen on it regular perching spot on the bank of the pit.

Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo
The Common Buzzard is probably the most widespread raptor in Britain. They can be seen all over the site and on hot sunny days they can be seen in large group circling high up in the sky by taking advantage of the thermals.

Common Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus
The most common falcon over the site. People usually associate this bird been seen on the side of motorways hunting for small rodents.

Merlin - Falco columbarius
A noteworthy species of the site and can mostly be seen in the winter months. When seen can be identified by its small size and flying at a fast pace usually chasing passerines or flushing the wintering flock of Lapwing of the main pit.

In 2017  a single bird was seen on the 28/1/17 (J.P M.P) this was a very mobile bird and was only seen the once flying high over the main pit before diving down and flushing the winter flock of Lapwing and couldn't be relocated.

Hobby - Falco subbuteo
The Hobby is a summer migrant to the UK an can be identified by is very fast flight, red brown patch at the base of the tail and its very aerodynamic shape. They can either be seen flying low over the fields hunting for insects or can be seen flying high in the sky and just passing through Tucklesholme.

Peregrine Falcon - Falco peregrinus
The Peregrine Falcon is a all year round bird to the British Isle and can be seen in coastal areas nesting on cliff sides or seen in land in a urban area nesting on old cathedrals or other types of buildings, and as Tucklesholme is located right next to the town of Burton upon Trent and I haven't  seen one my self in Burton but there well could be a nesting pair on one of the buildings. At Tucklesholme birds are more likely seen circling high up in the sky or just passing through an example of this was one bird seen passing through on the 18/3/17 (J.P M.P C.M).