Harrier or Kite

[baggy2508]

Hi.
We went to Blenheim Palace at Woodstock today and near the exit was a raptor which took off and landed in a tree a little distance away, I could not stop because of traffic behind me but this bird looked like a Harrier or a Kite.
Anybody know what it may have been.
Regards John B

[gareth_blockley]

Assuming it wasn't a Buzzard, without any ID features i would say Red kite. There are a fair few Red kites in the area from the nearby release site in the chilterns. It would be quite unusual to have a Marsh harrier around the area at this time of year, but a slim chance of Hen harrier.

Hope that helps

Gareth

[baggy2508]

Hi Gareth.
Definitely not a Buzzard, Could have been a Kite buy did not notice the fork in the tail,as others I have seen at Marsh Baldon.
Regards John B

[RobinD]

Hi John,

The landing in tree makes a Harrier a lot less likely. There are a lot of Kites (and Buzzards) around in Oxon!

ATB

Robin