Large BOP ID

[Dogghound]

Sorry the photo quality is awful it was more of several quick reaction shots at something over 100m away with a short range lense.

Firstly this was a large bird quite abit bigger than a wood pigeon. It was on the ground on the otherside of a hedge when I disturbed it and it took flight. Its flight was medium speed with slow deep wing beats. It made no noise. But it made wing noise similar to a pigeon when it first took off. The habitat is a valley with mixed farmland and a river through the middle. Mixed woodland on one slope and pine plantation on the other slope, about 3 miles from the sea.

Unfortunately I was so busy trying to get a photo I didnt get a good look at it before it flew off.





The second picture looks like it may have caught something

Sorry they are really bad photos maybe it might just jog someones mind.

Thanks alot DH

[KeenTeen17]

it looks like an osprey to me. The wing shape and the fact it might have caught something over water makes it likely

[Dogghound]

They will be in Africa now though.

The river is more like a drain, it has fish in but this bird came from within a field next to the river.

[Jason Green]

So, one down then... I've discounted Red Kite as unlikely, the habitat looks good for a Buzzard

[Dogghound]

Yes there are buzzards around, just in the picture the colour looked abit wrong, but yes a possibility.

[Picidae]

My educated guess would be a female Hen Harrier. Flight description along with wing shape (ie. long narrow wings with fairly pointed hand), long tail etc. But doubt you will get a positive ID from these photos. I'm sure people will have fun guessing at all sorts though

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by Picidae

My educated guess would be a female Hen Harrier. Flight description along with wing shape (ie. long narrow wings), long tail etc. But doubt you will get a positive ID from these photos. I'm sure people will have fun guessing at all sorts though

Exactly my guess, Picidae. I then saw the RSPBs site and it showed a tiny South-east distribution then little pockets slightly further North during the summer, so changed it to my second preference after Buzzard before removing it as it too looked unlikely.

It fits the photo though, so I'll change my mind back again and back female Hen Harrier.

Nice to help you out for a change Dan, to kind of return the favour...

[Fieldfare95]

thats a tricky one!
What about female Sparrowhawk?

[Jason Green]

...go for it

[ogwen]

Erm Wild stab in the dark lol, but looks a bit like a Goshawk?
Probably wrong but tis an educated guess