Buzzard, Oare Marshes - Kent (1 Viewer)

Alexjh1

Well-known member

• Oct 11, 2017

• #1

I was at Oare Marshes on Monday to see the Wilson's Phalarope, but while I was there this bird passed over and peaked my interest - it seemed to show a bunch of the features I associate with Rough-Legged Buzzard so I thought I'd get some opinions on it.

It just flew North over the main flood while most people's eyes were on the Phalarope.

Any thoughts would be very welcome, thanks in advance!

 

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tconzemi

Tom

Supporter

• Oct 11, 2017

• #2

interesting, but the carpal patches (kommas here) too small imo

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Oct 11, 2017

• #3

Looks like a Rough-leg to me?



A

 

MTem

Well-known member

• Oct 11, 2017

• #4

All I can add is that there are Common Buzzards with similar features around. The one that fledged from a nest on my land for instance. I don't have a flight photo, but it was much like the OP photo, and the one below is a crappy phone photo, but I think you can see what I mean.
Mick

 

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John Cantelo

Well-known member

• Oct 11, 2017

• #5

On these photos, I see nothing that could rule out Common Buzzard of which there are quite a few around Oare.

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Oct 11, 2017

• #6

John Cantelo said:

On these photos, I see nothing that could rule out Common Buzzard of which there are quite a few around Oare.

Click to expand...

But Kent is a regular wintering spot for R-lB in the UK as well.


A

 

MTem

Well-known member

• Oct 11, 2017

• #7

True enough Andy, but I think I'm right in saying very rarely this early in the 'winter' - because it's like summer at the moment!

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Oct 11, 2017

• #8

MTem said:

True enough Andy, but I think I'm right in saying very rarely this early in the 'winter' - because it's like summer at the moment!

Click to expand...

We get them on passage up here in Russia from mid Sept but I agree, it is probably a bit early in the UK.


A

 

John Cantelo

Well-known member

• Oct 11, 2017

• #9

andyadcock said:

But Kent is a regular wintering spot for R-lB in the UK as well.


A

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Having lived in Kent for over 40 years, I'm well aware of its status in the county. Although 1-2 birds wintered on Sheppey 2001-2009 I think this gives a false impression as they have not been a regularly wintering species since (although two did so in 2011/12) and most years only 2-3 single day birds have been reported. This fits the historical pattern of occurrence hence I think it can best be described as an irregular wintering species in the county. In contrast, there are now an estimated 1,000-2,000 breeding pairs of Common Buzzards in the county (more in winter) and it's not that unusual to see half-a-dozen or more from Oare.

 

Alexjh1

Well-known member

• Oct 11, 2017

• #10

This turned out to be a bit more debated than I was expecting!

I've been to Oare a decent number of times before and (as everywhere) my first instinct was to assume buzzard, but it did just seem to be interesting enough to bring it up here rather than making it another write-off.

It did feel slightly "off" in it's movement for what I would typically expect of a buzzard which is what caught my attention to begin with, but CB can frequently feel that way, so I'm not saying that's diagnostic of it being a RBL.

Anyway, I've got one other photo which had more detail hidden in it in photoshopping the light levels than I thought it would, so just in case it helps:

 

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John Cantelo

Well-known member

• Oct 11, 2017

• #11

andyadcock said:

We get them on passage up here in Russia from mid Sept but I agree, it is probably a bit early in the UK.


A

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Yes, on the early side but not impossibly so as one was seen in the county on 12/10 in 2013 although reports of tend to be later in the month or into November.