JDog Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 No pictures I'm afraid. I have seen this bird twice, both times at a height of 150 - 200m. It has a large wingspan with thinnish looking wings and I believe that it's colouration is grey. It is larger than a Buzzard and I know this because on the first occasion I saw it a territorial Buzzard went up to challenge it. Any ideas anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tadorna Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 Lammergeier? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felly100 Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 Female goshawk? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 I would have said it could have been hen harrier if flying a bit lower. Did it have hawk shaped wings or falcon shaped wings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TONY R Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 Another for the Goss hen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 Kite? we have a good few over this side, around South Cave area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 Could also possibly be an osprey passing through? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 If it had a forked tail I'd go for red kite by the way you describe thinnish wings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie10 Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 kite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 The fork in the tail of a red kite is very obvious to see and I would of thought JDog would of spotted it. So I say no to a kite and yes to a female Goshawk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted June 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 Definitely not a kite or a goshawk. My initial thought when I first saw it was an osprey passing through but I have seen it twice now with two weeks in between. The wings are more falcon like than rounded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 Escaped Gyrfalcon perhaps? Definitely not a kite or a goshawk.My initial thought when I first saw it was an osprey passing through but I have seen it twice now with two weeks in between.The wings are more falcon like than rounded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted June 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 Escaped Gyrfalcon perhaps? Bigger than a Gyr falcon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 Do you have any large lakes in that area? We had a migratory osprey stay around here for a week or two a while ago, it found a food supply and was building up strength to continue north so it is still possible. What were the wing beats like? Shallow or deep, slow or fast? Also worth looking up the local birding forums for recent sightings of unusual birds in the area, see if anything matches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 Unlikely to be a falcon then as they are the biggest falcon species. Trying to think what would be bigger than a buzzard but with falcon type wings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted June 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 Slow wing beats. It flew like an albatross and its wings weren't too dissimilar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 Sounds like a Harrier. Grey, with black wing tips? There was a Pallid Harrier seen in Sussex a few weeks ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 Was it flying in circles? Might have been an Oozelum bird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 Sounds like a Harrier. Grey, with black wing tips? There was a Pallid Harrier seen in Sussex a few weeks ago. Slow wing beats. It flew like an albatross and its wings weren't too dissimilar. I'd also say a harrier, HH often look almost like a seagull from behind with quite a curved wingspan like a kids seagull drawing (like 2 c's on side) Dunno wot other types of harrier u get down there Marsh or Montagues, but the HH definately look greyish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 Great skua ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 I had a stranger on my ponds a few weeks ago. I flew like a Gull and turned on a crow that tried to mob it. I was told it was almost certainly a Marsh Harrier, as there are some nesting locally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKPoacher Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 Heron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondoggy Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 Eurofighter out of Conningsby? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 I'd also say a harrier, HH often look almost like a seagull from behind with quite a curved wingspan like a kids seagull drawing (like 2 c's on side) Dunno wot other types of harrier u get down there Marsh or Montagues, but the HH definately look greyish +1 Harrier of some description, Hen, Marsh or Montague's but which one is anyone's guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted June 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 It was too big to be Harrier. It was bigger than a Buzzard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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