Birds of prey in flocks

[Catherine007]

Can anyone tell me which bird I saw in a flock of about 20. Fawn in colour with stripe on wings and about the size of a sparrowhawk? I didn't think these birds went in flocks.

[aeshna5]

Welcome to WAB.

From your description it's difficult to know what your birds are. I'm pretty sure from the size they weren't birds of prey. Some of the much larger species such as Red Kite + Buzzard can occur in large groups in places.

None of the smaller raptors occur in flocks here. What made you think they were birds of prey? Can you give any more details- colour/shape, etc + what sort of habitat where they in? Could they have been a flock of Fieldfare?

[Wild-Woman]

Hi Catherine and welcome.
Birds of prey don't usually flock as such, but if there is food going then you may see Red Kites in reasonable numbers.
You say these were about the size of a sparrowhawk and fawn coloured? The only fawn coloured birds I can think of are waxwings of which there has been a spectacular amount of in the country this winter. However, these are only starling sized and not birds of prey.
I'm puzzled otherwise.

[artdemole]

Buzzards numbering 30 to 40 are seen in this area soaring the skies at times.Seen a lot in warmer weather.Reports have also been made in local journal.

[Dogghound]

We sometimes get flocks of smaller raptors like hobbies on migration, clearly not these now though. I think its likely that you have seen a flock of thrushes or waders. Can you give a better description, habitat, location?

[Catherine007]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Welcome to WAB.

From your description it's difficult to know what your birds are. I'm pretty sure from the size they weren't birds of prey. Some of the much larger species such as Red Kite + Buzzard can occur in large groups in places.

None of the smaller raptors occur in flocks here. What made you think they were birds of prey? Can you give any more details- colour/shape, etc + what sort of habitat where they in? Could they have been a flock of Fieldfare?

Thanks for replying. They were far too large for fieldfares and not large enough for buzzards - we have a pair of buzzards on the farm. I was in the car and had to stop because I was so surprised. They were brown/fawn and had pointed wings like a merlin or a kestrel, not feathery like a buzzard. They were flying, not in formation, over upland fields in Northern England.

[nikolai_avenger]

Suggests to me then perhaps woodcock or snipe..

Cheers. Nik.

[Catherine007]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Hi Catherine and welcome.
Birds of prey don't usually flock as such, but if there is food going then you may see Red Kites in reasonable numbers.
You say these were about the size of a sparrowhawk and fawn coloured? The only fawn coloured birds I can think of are waxwings of which there has been a spectacular amount of in the country this winter. However, these are only starling sized and not birds of prey.
I'm puzzled otherwise.

Thanks for your reply. I wish I had been on foot and had more stime to observe. By the time I had stopped the car they were flying away.

[Catherine007]

Thanks for your reply. They were much larger than thrushes which in any case seem to have disappeared from here. I haven't seen one for ages. I'm in North Cumbria.

[Fauna]

Have you ruled out Jay?


Regards Chris...