Large bird of Prey? ID help please

[poppingjay]

Sorry to post an ID thread without a photo ( I was driving when the sighting took place). My BoP knowledge is quite limited so I thought I'd ask. I'd assumed, wrongly perhaps that Kestrels were our only hoverers but driving home this morning I spotted a much larger bird hovering and manoeuvring by the edge of a copse of trees. From a distance I was thinking UFO

It was a large, chunky looking bird, with broad wings with a rounded edge, broad spread out tail and a very pale undercarriage (creamy white), with no distinguishing features that I could make out but had a few brownish speckles.... I was driving at the time I only had a few moments to 'clock it'.

I've seen sprawks and kestrels quite regularly on my travels and I'm certain (almost) it wasn't either of those, just far too big. I know we have buzzards in the area but after looking at a few pictures this bird didn't seem to have dark enough plumage? Whatever it was it was very beautiful, but I'd appreciate anyone's thought on it

[Tringa]

I think it is likely to have been a buzzard.

Buzzards do hover (I have seen two in the last few weeks hovering), they are probably the most widespread and most common large bird of prey and they are very variable in colouring.


Dave

[poppingjay]

Originally Posted by Tringa

I think it is likely to have been a buzzard.

Buzzards do hover (I have seen two in the last few weeks hovering), they are probably the most widespread and most common large bird of prey and they are very variable in colouring.


Dave

Yes I think you're right, I've since had a look at more pictures and some of them do indeed look quite pale. Thanks for your reply

[faz]

buzzards colour can vary from almost white to black and all the drowns in between i wud ay it was a buzzard you saw as they do hover some times

[Rob_D]

Only British BOPs that hover are Kestrel and Buzzard.

[hotpepper]

Ospreys hover - but mainly over water