Help identifying a Bird of Prey Spotted in West Cornwall on bank holiday Monday. (1 Viewer)

[Burrows]

At a loss with this one. Firstly thought it was a Buzzard but did not fly or behave like one. Apologies for the quality it was quite distant from us.

 

[SimonG4ELI]

Juvenile Buzzard? marking look like Buzzard, not many other options I think.

 

[Farnboro John]

It is indeed a Buzzard though the rounded rather than pointed secondaries indicate an adult. The markings are typical Buzzard.

John

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,

welcome to Birdforum!

I agree with Simon, Richard and John, a Common Buzzard. Please note:

• you have at first identified it as a Common Buzzard in the field. Regulary more trustable the observers gut feeling experience than later doubts (no offence to a new member)
• the already mentioned markings

Most similar Rough legged Buzzard can be excluded by

• uniform brownish head, often clearly paler, greyer or with a different brown hue in the rarer RLB
• you can see the unfeathered tarsi in picture 0 and 2, please compare to this Rough legged Buzzard (Fiener Bruch near Tucheim, NE-Germany)

https://flic.kr/p/2pGTBbX

 

[davercox]

In what way did it not behave like a Buzzard, Burrows ?

 

[Burrows]

The flight pattern appeared different to me, more glide, hover, glide, hover than I was used to. I am not a hardend ornithologist by any stretch so I defer to those with better knowledge.

 

[Farnboro John]

The flight pattern appeared different to me, more glide, hover, glide, hover than I was used to. I am not a hardend ornithologist by any stretch so I defer to those with better knowledge.

A patrolling Buzzard will often use a flight pattern of this nature. It is a common error to assume that Common Buzzards don't hover but in fact they often do, especially if aided by a light wind. Almost all raptors routinely hunt into wind.

John

 

[Kits]

Welcome to Birdforum. I hope you enjoy your visits.

 

[dakuan]

Yeah I saw a buzzie doing this in the distance and got quite excited (thinking maybe it was a new raptor!), but once i got closer it was very clear it was 100% a buzzard.