Large white bird

[Sundial]

Hello everyone.

A few days ago, my mother spotted an unusual bird. It appears to be a bird of prey. It was a large bird, mainly white in colour with but some black markings. It had a medium sized dark brown or black hooked beak and quite long bare legs. The bird was sitting near water in Dumfries, a town in south-west Scotland. It didn't move much.

My mother took a photograph of the bird. I thought the bird was some kind of vulture but I have been unable to find a picture of any vulture that looks the same. Once my mother comes back with her camera, I'll try to upload the photo she took. Does anybody recognise the bird from the description?

[faz]

osperay springs to mind but if you upload the picture we will ID it for you


welcome to WAB

[htcdude]

Wrong time of the year for Osprey, they're summer visitors.

It's probably a Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo), some birds can display a lot of white.

Welcome by the way

Nige

[Sundial]

Thank you for your welcomes. Here's the photo.

[htcdude]

Ah right it's a Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

[Sundial]

Here is another shot showing a duck nearby.

[Sundial]

I wondered if it was a heron because of the bare legs but the beak doesn't seem to be like a heron's beak, it's more like a vulture beak.

[htcdude]

Lol I think it's an illusion. What appears to be it's beak is actually it's feathers, and it has it's head tucked into it's body.

If it were a bird of prey I'm sure the duck wouldn't be sitting there still

Also your duck is a female Mallard

Nige

[glsammy]

Definitely a Grey Heron. They often rest like this with their head tucked into their body.

[Sundial]

Thanks for all your replies. Being a heron explains the bird's location and the bare legs. I've never seen a heron with its beak hidden like that before but that posture will explain the "illusion". Thanks again for your help.