This suprised me! (UK)

[greg_evans]

Hello all - I was on my local patch (Worcestershire, England) on Sunday searching for migrants and a huge raptor emerged from the trees. It was being mobbed by magpies and a common buzzard but soon shook off their attention. The bird appeared larger than the Buzzard.

It remained in the same valley from lunchtime until dusk and may have taken up residence in the area - i'd look out if I were a local rabbit.

From the pictures I have ID'ed it as a Harris Hawk. Escapee I presume ;) but not wing tagged and without jesses.

Any comment on the ID would be welcome also any one have any thoughts as to how well this, apparently very healthy bird could fend for itself in the wild.

Regards,

Greg Evans

[Darrell Clegg]

It's certainly a Harris Hawk, a widely kept falconers bird which have a habit of escaping. I know of two in my local area in the last year or so - one of which was reported as a White-tailed Eagle until it was found sitting in a field being mobbed by the local Buzzards

Darrell

[Martin Thomas]

It's quite common at this time of year for falconry birds to have new jesses fitted, beaks coped etc. so perhaps it possibly escaped during its 'service'.

[jerkin]

Hello all - I was on my local patch (Worcestershire, England) on Sunday searching for migrants and a huge raptor emerged from the trees. It was being mobbed by magpies and a common buzzard but soon shook off their attention. The bird appeared larger than the Buzzard.

It remained in the same valley from lunchtime until dusk and may have taken up residence in the area - i'd look out if I were a local rabbit.

From the pictures I have ID'ed it as a Harris Hawk. Escapee I presume ;) but not wing tagged and without jesses.

Any comment on the ID would be welcome also any one have any thoughts as to how well this, apparently very healthy bird could fend for itself in the wild.

Regards,

Greg Evans Hi Greg Harris Hawks are very competent hunters this bird will have little problems fending for its self. Its problems will come if it is still living wild by the start of winter.Harris Hawks have very poor water proofing and prone to frostbite in bad cases losing wingtips or toes