raptor ID

iainL · #1 (**permalink**) 24-12-2010, 04:41 PM

Hi

A wee help request - sorry about the low quality of image.

This thing flew over our house today and I was wondering if anyone has any ideas what it is. Certainly scared the living daylights out of the usual garden creatures!

Cheers

Iain

Wild-Woman · #2 (**permalink**) 24-12-2010, 05:05 PM

Hard to tell for sure, but I'd say Buzzard.

Deer Stalker · #3 (**permalink**) 24-12-2010, 05:14 PM

Looking at the barring - Sparrowhawk.

ChrisJB · #4 (**permalink**) 24-12-2010, 05:15 PM

That is a hefty looking bird and I'm tempted to say goshawk, but sparrowhawk is more likely of the two.

ChrisJB

Blizzard · #5 (**permalink**) 24-12-2010, 05:18 PM

I don't think it's a buzzard. I think I can see barring on the tail so maybe Sparrowhawk.

Did you get any impression of size Iain?

Wild-Woman · #6 (**permalink**) 24-12-2010, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blizzard

I don't think it's a buzzard. I think I can see barring on the tail so maybe Sparrowhawk.

Did you get any impression of size Iain?

Yep- I agreed, I've taken a second look- sprawk. I've got 'wine' vision at the moment.

iainL · #7 (**permalink**) 24-12-2010, 05:44 PM

Thanks for the replies, I've certainly had sparrowhawks visiting regularly and that was my first thought until I saw the body - I've uploaded another image which shows the wing shape more clearly if that's any use (even worse quality than the first I'm afraid!)

Thanks again

Iain

Blizzard · #8 (**permalink**) 24-12-2010, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Yep- I agreed, I've taken a second look- sprawk. I've got 'wine' vision at the moment.

I think there are a few of us looking through wine goggles at the moment

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Blizzard · #9 (**permalink**) 24-12-2010, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iainL

Thanks for the replies, I've certainly had sparrowhawks visiting regularly and that was my first thought until I saw the body - I've uploaded another image which shows the wing shape more clearly if that's any use (even worse quality than the first I'm afraid!)

Thanks again

Iain

If it was just the body rather than the size then I would go with Sparrowhawk. I was lucky enough to see a Gos earlier this year and it was huge compared to a Sparrowhawk. A real WOW moment. If you didn't get a WOW moment then I think it'll be a Sparrowhawk.

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Not that I know much

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