What would this be?

kerash

Hi,
Today I saw a large bird flying over the fields around my home place, to me it looked like some kind of bird of prey, it had a very large wing span and I noticed he had gray or silvery colouring on the underside of his wings. Any idea what this would be?

It was a pity I had no camera at the time but I'm gonna keep an eye out over the next few days as I havent seen one like him before!

jmkennedyie

Need more info

Where abouts?
Hovering? Soaring?
What kind of height? Tree-top height? Way higher?
Bigger than a Rook?

Buzzards can have pale underwings...see this photo Tom Byrne has uploaded to flickr:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomasjbyrne/2650089717/

kerash

jmkennedyie wrote: »

Need more info

Where abouts?
Hovering? Soaring?
What kind of height? Tree-top height? Way higher?
Bigger than a Rook?

Buzzards can have pale underwings...see this photo Tom Byrne has uploaded to flickr:

Thanks for the reply:)
Well I'm in Longford so not sure what the buzzard scene is like around here!
It was swooping low and soaring over fields, had a good view and myself and dad agreed it wasn't a gull or rook.
As far as I can remember it had wings quite like that buzzard but it wasn't so brown.
Hopefully I might spot it again for more detail, it was cool to see something unusual tho!

Hammiepeters

Male Hen Harrier.?(silvery grey) When swooping low, did the wings curve upwards in a sort of wide V? If so, thats your bird. If not probably Buzzard.

kerash

Hammiepeters wrote: »

Male Hen Harrier.?(silvery grey) When swooping low, did the wings curve upwards in a sort of wide V? If so, thats your bird. If not probably Buzzard.

Yep, I was just googling and the harrier is the only bird that is similar to the one I spotted! Although I cant find a pic that looks just like my one!:p
Will have to keep my eyes peeled and hopefully get a picture to confirm.
Thanks for your help guys!

Hammiepeters

kerash wrote: »

Yep, I was just googling and the harrier is the only bird that is similar to the one I spotted! Although I cant find a pic that looks just like my one!:p
Will have to keep my eyes peeled and hopefully get a picture to confirm.
Thanks for your help guys!

Possibly immature bird, so plumage not fully coloured yet, hence not identical to the guides.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Everything sounds right (description, location, etc) for a Harrier.

boneless

It sounds very much like a harrier all right. OP, keep an eye out for it and let us know.

Thanks!!

fluffyVW

Here is some pictures of the bird!!!

Hammiepeters

Buzzard.

kerash

Hammiepeters wrote: »

Buzzard.

Really? cool, thanks:)
It's funny the first time I saw it, the way the sun was shining on him he looked a different colour! It was hard enough to get the pic (thanks fluffy;)) but very cool to see I thought!

lightening

Cool, put the photos in the photos sticky before this thread goes old...

fluffyVW

lightening wrote: »

Cool, put the photos in the photos sticky before this thread goes old...

Will do that now!!!