5 no. Hen Harriers

[Rob T]

Whilst out Saturday photographing deer on the New Forest I was walking between woods across a heath in 20mph gusty S.W. wind, when I first saw a Harrier above me then turned and saw another one, then another and another eventually FIVE in all using the wind and angling their wings and bodies to accelerate to great speeds then just hold station with no wing beats at all.



They were low enough that I could see their heads swiveling from side to side.Their wing colours from below appeared white and black but a gorgeous golden brown on top as were some of their bodys with some striking white patches around their throats and just before the tail, but some of their bodies were a very light colour to the whole underside, some were pale grey. They swooped twisted and turned and covered great distances in a short space of time. Then as quick as they arrived they were back over from the direction they came and then completly dissapered.



My camera was set up for any any long distance deer i might had encounterd with a 300 lens with a 2x converter on so I knew that I would probably be waisting my time shooting but even if only one was in focus it would have been my first harrier capture so I kept going.



Although none of these shots are realy passable it may help to see wing, body and tail shapes, in, as I said, a quite strong wind and may help the mystery of Jason Greens BOP.



My question is, is it unusual to see 5 of these stunning birds in the air at the same time ?

Regards

Rob

[Dogghound]

Arnt they photos of buzzards not hen harriers

[paulchandler6]

They all look like Buzzards to me.

Paul

[Rob T]

I may be wrong. . . but these birds were much smaller and moved much quicker than the buzzards normal flight , they kept losing and gaining height whilst traveling and their wings didnt seem broad enough. I have seen buzzards over this particular area and the numbers (5) would seem buzzard like but I think these birds were too small.

Rob

[Dogghound]

Definately look like buzzards and the numbers are good, especially the second and third photo's down thay are a buzzard's same markings face and wings. The top picture has a smaller bird (maybe something else) with what looks like a buzzard.

[Gill Catton]

buzzards 3rd picture is the clearest.

doesn't have the markings around the face/neck that a harrier has......

[Deer Stalker]

Hi Rob,

They're Buzzards mate. In Hen Harriers the wings & tail are longer & thinner. Harriers don't tend to soar when they're down here for the winter, instead they quarter the ground. Iv'e only once seen a Hen Harrier display high up in the air over the Forest.
Usually I see single birds over the heaths, except in the evening when I go to the north of the Forest to watch them come in to roost. Then you can see 4 or 5 in the air at once while they quarter the ground before they drop down into the heather to roost.

[Gill Catton]

buzzards 3rd picture is the clearest.

doesn't have the markings around the face/neck that a harrier has and its beak seems heavier ......

[ChrisJB]

A cluster of Buzzards I'd say.

Regards, Chris

[Rob T]

Ah . . . um . . . OK . . . Gentlemen Do except my apologies I have blessed this thread with an undeserved title, I have several previous photos of Buzzards but convinced myself these were too small and agile but Im not going to argue, so thank you for your time.

Im off to buy another bird book and spend the next week in the naughty corner with a brown paper bag over my head.

Regards

Rob