Hen Harrier or Buzzard ?

[SuzieandFlo]

Whilst out today, we saw a biggish BOP sitting on top of a telegraph pole. All 3 of us immediately said "what's that ?". It was similar in size to a buzzard but didn't look like one. It looked mottled brown and grey on its back, it had a pale underside but didn't have the darker colouring on the underside of its wings like a buzzard. Its head was most obviously different, the top of its head was brown and it was light greyish around its eyes. It also had dark markings on its face, around the greyish area. It almost looked like it had black or dark "teardrop marks" underneath its eyes. We are a bit confused about this one. There are a lot of buzzards in the area but this bird definitely looked different. Unfortunately, it flew off before any of us managed to get a picture. When it flew off, it seemed to just glide off the telegraph pole beating its wings only twice before gliding across the field.
We saw this bird on farmland (grass fields), which is also very close to open moorland and peat bog.

[RoyW]

Considering how variable Buzzards can be I would think that Comon Buzzard is the most likely candidate - some birds with pale underpart do have reduced dark markings under the wings. Your description doesn't make the bird sound like a Hen Harrier (or a Marsh Harrier).

[aeshna5]

I agree with Roy that it's most likely to be a buzzard. Shame you weren't able to get a photo for confirmation.

[accipter]

it sounds like the sit and wait hunting approach of a buzzard which they do on telegraph poles put together with the others descriptions its very likely.

[RobS]

I've seen thousands of Buzzards and probably 100+ harriers. I've seen hundreds of Buzzards sitting on posts but never seen a harrier sitting on a post.

I would say 100% Buzzard - and as the others have said they can be highly variable colours from almost white to almost black (slight exaggeration). Despite having seen so many, and they are very common these days, I never tire of seeing them.

Rob S

[accipter]

saw a marsh harrier sitting in a tree once' is this common as you know I am a one bird man.

[RobS]

I've never seen a harrier perched! (I must be missing out on something)

Rob S

[Blenkas]

I've seen both Hen and Marsh Harriers perched on fence posts several times. Can't say i've ever seen Marsh in a tree though.

[accipter]

Sorry rob it was a juvenile could this be the answer finding its wings so to speak.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by RobS

I've never seen a harrier perched! (I must be missing out on something)

Rob S

If you go to some of the excellent reserves in Norfolk/Suffolk it's not unusual to see Marsh Harriers sat on posts or large bushes in areas of reedbeds.