help identifying raptor....

[RayDS]

please help id love to identify the bird in the pics below. A little back ground, we currently have sparrowhawks, kestrels, common buzzard, and the occasional red kite, but this looks a little different, it was spotted for a few days flying around a lake, i dont want to put ideas into peoples heads but we're leaning towards an osprey (unlikely though it seems).

Thanks in advance.

http://

[Picidae]

Looks very good for Osprey - not that unlikely given they are now on migration through the UK

Congratulations btw and it would be worth reporting to your local OS - what's your location?

Some ID features to help you in future:

1. Very short tail with heavily barred
2. long harrier type wings with slim hand and 4 visible primary fingers
3. Underwing pattern - dark carpel and inner secondaries, pale patch on inner primaries contrasting with white body
4. Head very small compared to long wings and heavy body - dark eyestripe/band extending to rear visible with poor/distant views.
5. Typical flight gizz is with wings well bent back from carpel joints and look very arched in frontal view

[RayDS]

thankyou for the quick reply, we're in north yorkshire between york and leeds. one question though what do you mean by OS?

[Picidae]

Ornithological Society: Most Counties have one (sometimes called Ornithological 'club' I think)

If you check this link - there's one for Doncaster at the top of the page (as an example)Birdwatching Clubs in Yorkshire

Google your county area with 'ornithological society' as the search string and it should throw up the OS that covers your area - you can submit your sighting on line - there's probably a link to the one you want from the url I posted above

Maybe this one: York Ornithological Club - Information about birdwatching in York and North Yorkshire

[ChrisJB]

Osprey for me that one. There have been a few sightings in Yorkshire over the past few days, especially close to the Pennines.

Regards, Chris

[rossy]

i tkink this is the same bird a freind told me about yesterday and he was in todmorden park. he went on to say it was being mobbed by at least 10 swallows . he went on to say the bird was circling and hardly put any effort with its wings if you know what i mean.he said he had not seen anything like it before. rossy

[RayDS]

just incase anyone wanted confirmation....