Spotted in the Angus Glens today - ID check please? (1 Viewer)

[Scozmos]

Good morning all, just, spotted this bird today on my walk, if it's a Buzzard, I'll delete all photos!

 

[Andy Adcock]

Can't see what else it could be unless it's an escape but it is an odd one, reminds me a bit of Roadside Hawk.

 

[Scozmos]

Cheers @Andy Adcock hoped for Goshawk

 

[lockbreeze926]

Couldn't really be anything but a Buzzard in that location, but my gut feel was that of a Red-shouldered Hawk.

 

[Scozmos]

Couldn't really be anything but a Buzzard in that location, but my gut feel was that of a Red-shouldered Hawk.

It's the barring on the breast that threw me, the in-flight photos show typical Buzzard underwing markings

 

[Scozmos]

Ach well folks, I did get some fabulous Crossbill photos so all's well

 

[dantheman]

It's the barring on the breast that threw me, the in-flight photos show typical Buzzard underwing markings

Sooo ... where are the in-flight photos? ;-)

 

[Scozmos]

Sulking on the 'puter, for now, I'm off in search of Waxwings

 

[Butty]

my gut feel was that of a Red-shouldered Hawk

Ditto, but it isn't: pattern on secondaries and tail is wrong. Underpart-barring does seem particularly odd for common buzzard - which it must be.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,

my instant gut feeling was (and still is!): what a bird! Tfs!

Yes, I agree with all that its always good to think of a Common Buzzard when faced with an unusual raptor in most parts of Europe and only if this can be excluded with confidence to think of an unusual/abnormal coloured Common Buzzard (and only then of another species).

But what a mixture of unusual features:

• its not just the barring on the underparts, but the dark orangey-rufous "Sparrowhawk look alike" shade
• clear orange legs, compare to the warm yellow bill. Yes, bill is regular (?) slightly colder than the legs, but so pronounced?
• what a contrasting barring on the tail, but I struggle to find the reason, why it looks so strange to me.
• yes, with a little bit of wishful thinking I can just make out the u-shaped breast band, and I agree with all in the end its a Common Buzzard.

But I eagerly wait for the flight pictures and more comments. Thanks again for sharing!

 

[Scozmos]

Sorry guys, not a Waxwing in sight, I'll sort out the rest of these photos!

 

[Scozmos]

All shots here, there's only the one with the beak / face in view. I started with a P950 at full stretch, switched to Z72 with Sigma 150-600 at full stretch for cleaner shots, it was quite a distance on the hilltop above the track.

 

[Bewick]

All shots here, there's only the one with the beak / face in view. I started with a P950 at full stretch, switched to Z72 with Sigma 150-600 at full stretch for cleaner shots, it was quite a distance on the hilltop above the track.

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Yes it's a common buzzard, glad you had flight shots.

Edit- Neither Red-shouldered hawks nor roadside hawks so such an extensive dark trailing edge and it had the more heavily barred inner secondaries (compared to primaries) which is usual in buzzards.

 

[Scozmos]

Yes its a common buzzard, glad you had flight shots.

Once I saw those markings that's all it could be I guess