Help identifying bird of prey.

[Capt_Lightning]

Hello, I'm a new boy to this board, but having recently 'retired' to N.Scotland, I've got more time to look around me.

Anyway, yesterday I was driving down a narrow lane near the coast when I saw a raptor sitting on top of a telegraph pole. As I approached, it flew off to the next pole and so on - about 5 times, so I got a pretty good look - unfortunately I hadn't the camera with me.

It was a bit smaller than a buzzard and in flight had fairly narrow straightish wings and a very pronounced 'Fan' shaped tail. Colour - brownish on top with lighter, slightly speckled underneath.

A bit further on I saw (I'm fairly certain) a sparrowhawk and this was quite different.

Any ideas? The illustrations in my books suggest either a juvenile Peregrin or a Goshawk - but thats the trouble with illustrations in books - they don't always look like the real thing!

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

Sounds very Kestrelish to me

[Adam Cheeseman]

Sounds very much like Kestrel behaviour to me.

Cheers,

Adam

[solus]

A kestrel would appear much smaller than a Buzzard... Um... are you sure it wasn't a Buzzard? They can be incredibly variable in colour and markings and at different times and with different views can appear either quite small or very large (hence their frequent confusion as "Tourists Eagles") The behaviour you describe is very Buzzard-like too.

[Tursiops2]

Hallo Capt lightning, welcome to WAB.
I agree, most likely Kestrel. If it is, it's probably resident, so you should have plenty of opportunity to confirm the ID.
T2

[Capt_Lightning]

Thanks for that. The bird was definitely not a kestrel - too big for one, and I've seen enough of them to recognise one.

There are also lots of buzzards round here - mostly sitting on fence posts. It could have been a small one - the colour was similar, but the narrow wings and very distinctive fan tail made me think it was perhaps something else.

The opportunities for spotting wildlife is great here.
On a couple of occasions I've been lucky to see a Red Kite and I've witnessed a sparrowhawk taking a small bird in flight. On one occasion, a kestrel took off from a fence post and flew beside my car, only a few feet away - a fantastic view.

I've seen red squirrels - but I haven't seen a wild haggis yet!!

Thanks again for your replies.

[Tursiops2]

Originally Posted by Capt_Lightning

Thanks for that. The bird was definitely not a kestrel - too big for one, and I've seen enough of them to recognise one.

In that case... Hen Harrier, perhaps?

[ChrisJB]

I reckon Buzzard. As well as variable plumage, they can be variable in size too (within resaon).

Regards, Chris

[buteo_buteo]

Kestrels are so much smaller than buzzards you would (and obviously do) know the difference. It is very likely to be a buzzard (telegraph pole eagle as they are known!) but without a picture it's hard to say for sure, and a juvenile peregrine or even a goshawk are not out of the question. You will just have to get back out there and stalk it until you can get a thorough description!

Where about in the North are you? My dream is to move to Speyside in the coming years and live in the shadow of the Cairngorms. Boat of Garten would be ideal so I can watch the Osprey

[big bill]

Hello I think what you have seen is a Buzzard they seem to be quite prolific in some areas of the Highlands the other day whilst travelling from Nairn to Inverness 16 miles I passed 5 sitting on fence posts and telegraph poles