Large bird of prey sightings

[Samantha Elkins]

On Saturday 30th Jan my partner, my daughter & myself were coming off the M3 at junction 11, which is the Winchester turn off. As we drove along the slip road a large bird of prey swooped down & landed on the verge. As we got closer the bird then proceeded to take off & fly almost into the front of the car.
It was a large dark brown bird of prey with a massive wing span. I couldnt see any distinctive markings.
But today, Sunday 21st Feb we spotted the same large bird sitting at the same motorway junction on top of a lamp post. Once again we didn't spot any distinctive markings, except it was a dark brown colour.
On our return journey it was still sitting on the lamp post but my daughter said it appeared to have a white throat.
Can anyone please put a name to this bird for me ???
Many thanks
Sam

[Dogghound]

A Common Buzzard Buteo buteo by the sound of it.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

A Common Buzzard Buteo buteo by the sound of it.

Agree this is by far the most likely candidate for your bird.

[Samantha Elkins]

I am inclined to agree with you that it is most likely a buzzard except for one point.
After looking at many pictures of the Common buzzard, the bird we saw did not have a lighter chest or stomach area. Apart from the lighter throat it was all dark brown.
All the pictures I have seen of buzzards, they are distinctly lighter on their under bellies.

[aeshna5]

Obviously without a photo we can't be 100% certain, but Common Buzzards are a very variable species.

[Samantha Elkins]

We will keep an eye out for it & try to get pictures next time as it seems to be there quite a lot.
Thanks

[Dae]

They do vary hugely, going from almost white, to very dark in color. Pale front, dark front, speckled, they've got to be one of the main confusion bop species out there. I look forward to pictures!

[posie]

There is a rather large Buzzard here which is just very dark brownish, except for a white deep necklace.Well I think it is a Buzzard, can't be anything else really, though it is considerably bigger than the previous one that was here, which incidently, disappeared the same day that this big one arrived. Any thoughts? Posie.

[Morph]

Just to support aeshna5's post (not that its needed) Buzzards do come in a very large variety of phases/morphs. This fellow I photo'd near me (sorry heavily cropped) had some people reporting Red Kite, I was trying to convince myself it was a Steppe Buzzard (mainly so I could add to my life list) but it is in fact just a Common Buzzard.

[Harold Smith]

Though it is probably a Buzzard another option is that it could be a young Red Kite which would look brown with a light head and neck. They have been seen around the Chichester area. It's just a possibility.

Harold.