Osprey(?) in Hampshire

[scipio]

I nearly put this in the Osprey thread but I'm not quite sure enough.



Taken at about 14:00 from my garden. We were having lunch and I saw a white headed bird heading towards us (on a south-westerly track) at a great height. My first reaction was a Bald Eagle. My wife moved to get a look and said 'Seagull' and it then did seem to have very long wings. I rushed indoors to get something with a lens and the first thing I came across was my Lumix Z8 camera. I rushed outside, zoomed to maximum (12 times) and took this shot (hand-held). The bird was rapidly going north and loosing height.
Would appreciate any help with identifying it.

[Jason Claxton]

Hi Scipio

Ospreys have been reported already in Hants,but I think this a high flying Grey Heron.


Cheers Jason

[Deer Stalker]

Does look like a Grey Heron.

[scipio]

Yes it does, doesn't it.
Grey Herons overflying our house are not uncommon here, although at rather lower altitudes. I can only think that the bird I spotted flying southwest which was kite/harrier-like but with a clear white head (the bald eagle/seagull one !) was not the one I photographed when I returned having found my camera. I was only able to get one quick shot before it disappeared behind the oak tree so I pointed at the only thing I could see.
Sorry to have troubled you. (although the first sighting was very unusual and enough to get a birdwatcher of 40 years running for some optical help)

[ChrisJB]

Yes, it's a grey heron. Though there has been an osprey in Hampshire recently.

Regards, Chris