Owl or Buzzard or something else

[SVA19]

New to this site.

I have been watching birds in my garden for a few years, get Blue tits, Great tits, robin, blackbird, magpies, goldfinches, green finches and great spotted woodpecker.

Seeing the woodpeckers has been the highlight of bird watching in my garden for the last 2 years.

I do seem to see a bird of prey type bird flying in the sky now and again but never made out what it is?

Today there was a large bird in the wood behind me. See video on you tube can anyone tell me what type of bird this is likely to be?

YouTube - OWL OR BUZZARD

Is it an own or buzzard or something else?

Will it come into my garden - any tips?

I am in West Midlands, but close to countryside - just 1 mile away.

[Naturenutz]

looks liike a tawny owl

[JeffH]

I'd say it's Tawny Owl. As to whether or not it will come into your garden, this depends on a number of things - the size/nature of your garden, the presence of trees or other perching positions, the likelihood of it finding prey there, etc.

In other words, if your garden is a relatively small, typically urban garden with no sizeable trees and with no rough grassy areas it's unlikely. But if it's quite a large garden with trees and plenty of mice/voles there's every chance it will visit.

Hope that helps.

And welcome to WAB by the way

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers, Barn Owls & Avocets)

[faz]

tawny owl for me too

[rossy]

welcome sva19, and yes looks like a tawny owl to me too, but the bop that you see in the air from time to time, have you got any kind of description ? rossy.

[SVA19]

Thanks for the identification.

I hope I can see it again.

Last post "but the bop that you see in the air from time to time, have you got any kind of description ? rossy"

Whats Bop?

There was a magpie near the owl when I was fliming!

[Farplace]

Bop is short for Bird of Prey. Folks shouldn't assume that everyone knows abbreviations.

[rossy]

your right , it does mean bird of prey, as farplace has put, but like the rest of us , you will learn more, as time goes by, rossy.

[King Edward]

I'm not convinced this isn't a Buzzard - it seems to give that general impression and the pale band across the breast would fit with this species. Also, a BoP seen perched in a wood during the day is more likely to be Buzzard than Tawny Owl - not that the latter would be uncommon, just less common than Buzzard. Sparrowhawk might also be a possibility.

For birds of prey seen in the sky, Buzzards, Sparrowhawks and Kestrels are going to be the most likely species.

[Naturenutz]

The white wing bar and rounded head are clear enough to me,they also roost in trees,usually near the main trunk at height,the magpie may have disturbed the roosting bird and pestered it as magpies do.Tawnies have quite large territories and regularly patrol their bounderies.If your garden tree is on its territory boundery you may see the bird return on accassions to assert its territory by call and physical presence.It is not common to see them in broad daylight but not unheard of.