Big bird spiraling - Netherlands (1 Viewer)

[KeesJ]

Today I saw a bird at a great distance that I cannot identify.
As large as a great blue heron (the wings), body en wings seemed overall light in color with dark wing tips.
Flying at fairly high altitudes and occasionally spiraling vertically downwards with spread wings, with great speed. I mean spiraling in a straight line, no circles made.
Then quickly flapping wings again to a higher altitude.
I saw this in open countryside, meadows, in the Netherlands.

 

[Bewick]

Common crane? Really could be many of the larger waterbirds with that description though- if it looked like a heron then maybe just a grey heron?

Edit- Common crane suggested because of dark wing tips, not sure of many larger waterbirds that have black wing tips. Great blue herons are an American species and is almost certainly not that species.

 

[KeesJ]

Sorry, I only mentioned the heron to indicate the size of the bird/wings. I also could have said something like bold eagle.
I have no indication it's a waterbird.

Does a Crane dive is such a way as described?

 

[Bewick]

Have you checked marsh harrier, adult male? I've seen them swoop in such ways described- also fits the description.

 

[KeesJ]

Yes, I have checked marsh harrier. Only these are not so big as the one I saw.
So far there has been no other observations like I had, so I am afraid I have to let it go. A pity the bird was to far away.
Thanks for your suggestions.

 

[Gladiator96]

I see gulls doing the behaviour your describe regularly.

 

[Bewick]

I see gulls doing the behaviour your describe regularly.

Thought that as well, but I doubt that he isn’t aware of gulls.

 

[KeesJ]

I see gulls doing the behaviour your describe regularly.

Me too. But never seen such a big one.
I even thought one moment an osprey,

 

[Bewick]

Me too. But never seen such a big one.
I even thought one moment an osprey,

Then I’m going to agree with the gull, probably greater black backed gull. Similar to osprey wingspan.