ID Falcon - Gloucester (1 Viewer)

[Espen]

Hi.
I saw this bird in a field on the way to slimbridge on saturday, it was massive!i have ruled out buzzard and juv peregrine or any other bird of prey in my bird book for that matter! The pics are of it sitting on a hedge at the back of the field. When I first saw it (as we drove past) we got a good frontal view - it was sitting in the middle of the field on the ground. We stopped because it was so striking and so huge! the front was scratty but striking and white with distinct black flecks the only thing i could think of was a Gyrfalcon!
please help!:t:
Sorry about the rubbish pics!

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

It looks like a Buzzard to me I'm afraid.

 

[DaveN]

Looks like a Buzzard to me too.

 

[StuartReeves]

It looks like a Buzzard to me I'm afraid.

and to me too.

 

[halftwo]

Yes, sorry E, it's a Buzzard.

 

[nickderry]

buzzard for me too, they are VERY variable.

 

[black kite 1964]

Very blured when blown up! Looks like a buzzard!:cat::cat:

 

[Rossichalu]

Looks like a very big bird to me, must have been very exciting

 

[Espen]

Cheers for your comments
i see how you could imediately think that but look at the eyestripe very characteristic of a facon.its a shame i didn't get a pic of the front as it was very white and striking and certainly not buzzard.I know you get very light buzzards but this ones front was identical to that of a light phase gyr.Do you think it might be a hybrid?

 

[WACCOE]

Its a Buzzard

 

[Wigwam]

Its a Buzzard alright, saw one today over my house ;p

 

[draycotebirding]

Cheers for your comments
i see how you could imediately think that but look at the eyestripe very characteristic of a facon.its a shame i didn't get a pic of the front as it was very white and striking and certainly not buzzard.I know you get very light buzzards but this ones front was identical to that of a light phase gyr.Do you think it might be a hybrid?

Check this thread out , they can be very white.
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=161280

Regards

John

 

[Chris Oates]

There's a Buzzard near Truro that looks like a Gyr Falcon, another near Dartmouth that looks like an Osprey !

 

[myoudale]

I believe i saw this bird in question around slimbridge the other day, and it is a buzzard.

 

[apbarr]

Another vote for Buzzard

 

[stevensi]

Another vote for a common Buzzard

 

[aikidoka]

I can see why you could have thought this a falcon based on the apparent moustachial stripe, but Common Buzzard (as noted by others) is highly variable, in face pattern as well as body plumage. I found images on this blog: http://thenaturalstone.blogspot.com/2003/12/common-buzzard-elton.html of a bird with a similar appearance. I see nothing in these photos to rule out Common Buzzard - shape, plumage, apparent size all fit.

 

[Espen]

Cheers everyone:t:,shame tho!
Proved rong,againLOL:-O