hi,
this bird was seen near a small mudflat area on south coast..... medium sized, a bit larger than a kestrel... seemed very bird of prey like....... was totally black on wings and body and a totally white head....... it did not have a long neck, reminded me of a kestrel shaped bird...... it had a whole fish in its mouth and flew to the motor way embankment... but not up into the tree's but down into bushes at base of tree's....... it did not have a very long beak, not like a grebe.. shorter beak..... this was just a fleeting glimpse as it flew over......
it was very striking..... i saw no other colour like brown or grey.... it was jet black body and wings and plain white head.... the cl=olours did not mingle.....the white feathers at base of neck ruffled up in the breeze, like a collar......
it has been suggested it might be cormorant... but it had bulkier body.....there was no streamlining for diving for fish.....i watch 'water' birds everyday when i walk the dog..... avocets, oystercather's, grebes... this was not a water bird. it was stocky, more bird of prey like.
thanks for your help
this bird was seen near a small mudflat area on south coast..... medium sized, a bit larger than a kestrel... seemed very bird of prey like....... was totally black on wings and body and a totally white head....... it did not have a long neck, reminded me of a kestrel shaped bird...... it had a whole fish in its mouth and flew to the motor way embankment... but not up into the tree's but down into bushes at base of tree's....... it did not have a very long beak, not like a grebe.. shorter beak..... this was just a fleeting glimpse as it flew over......
it was very striking..... i saw no other colour like brown or grey.... it was jet black body and wings and plain white head.... the cl=olours did not mingle.....the white feathers at base of neck ruffled up in the breeze, like a collar......
it has been suggested it might be cormorant... but it had bulkier body.....there was no streamlining for diving for fish.....i watch 'water' birds everyday when i walk the dog..... avocets, oystercather's, grebes... this was not a water bird. it was stocky, more bird of prey like.
thanks for your help