Help me identify this bird

Buzzard. They regularly feed on the ground on earth worms and frogs are one of their favourites.

Female blackcap.

There's been a handfull of reports so far this year from Tory Island and Inishbofin but none in Dublin (or anywhere else 😔). That's not to say it's not a corncrake, but it would be most unusual.

I had a listen, it's not the same at all, but I can see why you thought of it.

Not impossible, it could have been on migration at this time of the year.

Pheasant perhaps?

Sorry I don't have a pic, but I was just watching the two buzzards that live close by circling round my garden and adjacent areas when a large bird, very similar to a buzzard with the 'square' ended wings flew over, it didn't have the under wing markings of the buzzard and it was very fast, flying in a straight line rather than circling like the buzzards. It was bigger than a buzzard, with a similar tail, straight rather than spread. I am sure it was a raptor of some sort (ie, it wasn't a crow or similar) but have no idea what it might have been. North Waterford near the Comeraghs. Any ideas?

Thank you for that, I did not see it for very long, it was flying very fast, but I don't think I saw a forked tail, and it was not that far away and I did not see the underwing markings, though the buzzard markings were very clear to see. I would like to think it might have been a golden eagle but I realise that is extremely unlikely, but the shape is right and the fact that it looked plain dark underneath, which I gather is what they look like.

Well that was the most noticeable thing, I had been watching the buzzards and they were still circling round, then the size of the other bird was very striking.

Two of us saw it and said more or less simultaneously 'that's not a buzzard!'

Its a possibility, though the wing ends were not fringed like a raven's, I am not familiar with ravens particularly but if they fly like crows then no, it had a different flight style. It was plain dark but on the whole I would have said it was more dark brownish than black. Thanks!