Raptor ?

[Dave S]

Please help as I am new to watching birds and joining a forum.
This morning while walking the dog I saw what I first thought was a Barn Owl fly past.
Further down the lane I saw it again in a tree.
As it flew off I could see that it was approx 1/2 as big again as a Barn Owl and if anything a little lighter in colour with more pointed wings.
The final sighting was 10 minutes later being mobbed by the local Rooks.
I have looked in my book and at photo's of hawks etc. but they all seem to dark in colour.

Any help would be greatly appreciated,

Dave S.

[RobinP]

Hi Dave and welcome. The only birds I can think of that fit your description are Gyr Falcon or Snowy Owl but they are quite rare, in which part of the country did you see it?

[Picidae]

A very pale Common Buzzard springs to mind. Certainly has 'more pointed wings' than an Owl species. Size also fits.

Galleriet - Netfugl.dk

Galleriet - Netfugl.dk

Galleriet - Netfugl.dk

[Dave S]

Thanks very much for the help.
After viewing the photo's I think now that it must have been a common Buzzard.

One of the joys of discovering this hobby fairly late in life is that everything is new.
Seeing our first Goldfinch at the feeder, and now regularly 10 to 15 every day with a max last week of 32.
Being 'buzzed' on the patio by our House Martins ( we only live in a bungalow)
And finally finding out what keeps digging holes in our lawn. I will try to load a picture of the Green Woodpecker when I learn how.

Thanks again,
Dave S
Near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

[Picidae]

Sorry Dave, forgot to welcome you to the forum.

Discovering birds and learning what they are is exiting at whatever age. Believe me, there's always more to learn and discover though, regardless of the numbers of years one has been doing it - there's the rest of the world for a start!

Good birding and hope you manage to load some photos up into the Gallery. Shout if you need help with that or with other IDs - plenty of members that will be more than glad to help.

[Dogghound]

How about a male hen harrier? We have one (maybe more) wintering here along the coast at the moment.

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

How about a male hen harrier? We have one (maybe more) wintering here along the coast at the moment.

I'd say that was far less likely given that Hen Harriers don't often perch in trees. They are low level hunters and as such prefer low perches such as fences/stumps etc. The black wing tips are very very noticeable in flight too giving the impression of a strongly contrasting plumage.

(I believe the OP is already satisfied from photos it was a pale Buzzard )

[Dogghound]

I know, just thought I better suggest it just incase. I have never seen one in a tree and as you say it is unlikely but every possibility should be looked at no matter how unlikely it is. They are very owl like afterall.

If there happy with a pale buzzard then good.