Strandman
Well-known member
I agree wing coverts look rather dark in pic. Just on the streaking, both Forsman and Christie both say that it persists until late autumn of CY2.
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UK/Raptor ID please (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter gradders52
- Start date
I agree wing coverts look rather dark in pic. Just on the streaking, both Forsman and Christie both say that it persists until late autumn of CY2.
lalows2
Well-known member
Had friends who used to live over this way not so long ago who we visited fairly regularly and yomped the hills with AND we have seen Hen Harrier over there on a couple of occassions especially in late autumn/winter.
So my money's on hen harrier, probably 2cy male. Cere not yellow - dirty? not fully coloured up for some reaon?
Cheers
Davo
So my money's on hen harrier, probably 2cy male. Cere not yellow - dirty? not fully coloured up for some reaon?
Cheers
Davo
apbarr
Well-known member
Never seen a musket with a breast like that
Jan-Paul Charteris
Sussex birder and budding moth enthusiast
Just a point but one of the distinctions of Marsh Hawk male from Hen Harrier is the underpart streaking in adult appearing (and actual adult) plumage stages, and the American species/race is hardly the most likely option over here being a major rarity. Am quite baffled as to the birds identity though. Merlin is my best guess as I really don't think thats a yellow eye. you can see its a leaf growing in from the left, and the eye I believe is in shaddow behind that
Jan
Jan
The Kerreran
Has hat, will stand in the rain
Oddly-plumaged raptor in the UK? It's a Buzzard.
Wearing contacts....
Failing that a soggy [always good for odd looks] immature male Hen Harrier.
Or possibly a Lemur/Harpy Eagle hybrid ["Please don't eat me.... I'll do anything!" "Anything..?"]
[[I'll get my coat...]]
Wearing contacts....
Failing that a soggy [always good for odd looks] immature male Hen Harrier.
Or possibly a Lemur/Harpy Eagle hybrid ["Please don't eat me.... I'll do anything!" "Anything..?"]
[[I'll get my coat...]]
birdboybowley
Well-known member.....apparently so ;)
Jan - that's the eye. That and the bill are the only things that are clear in the entire pic!!
Jane Turner
Well-known member
The lack of barring and spotting on the lower breast and belly is clear too!
phil baber
Clipped Wing
So what is it? :cat:
Jan-Paul Charteris
Sussex birder and budding moth enthusiast
Lol fair enough, I'll go with that
Keep trying to look at it in different ways to see if anything clicks but its not working. Probably just as well the legs aren't showing so we can't see the jesses and tag saying 'hybrid I made earlier' dangling from them. Then again ive considered anything from partially leucistic Sparrowhawk to Short-toed Eagle myself so I think its high time I stopped staring at the thing cheers
Jan
Jane Turner
Well-known member
I'd like to know about perceived size and flight.... and did the observer see anything not apparent in the photos, lke a white rump.
If the size is ok for Hen Harrier, which I still doubt, there is as good a case for recently fledged SEO - the black round the eyes, big forward facing yellow eyes, facial disk lack of cere etc, though I don't like the breast patterning and the bill structure is all wrong!
If the size is ok for Hen Harrier, which I still doubt, there is as good a case for recently fledged SEO - the black round the eyes, big forward facing yellow eyes, facial disk lack of cere etc, though I don't like the breast patterning and the bill structure is all wrong!
