Spotted very large perched bird of prey in County Durham, UK (3 Viewers)

[Kathryn North Shields]

Hi there, I took my dogs to Rainton Meadows Nature Park in County Durham, UK and was completely shocked to see a very large bird of prey. It was perched and these are the things I noted:
Very large - would guess over 5kg
Very upright, majestic posture
Large yellow very impressive beak
Dark brown and brown mottled chest
Very dark overall
I was so shocked by its large, majestic and unique appearance (unlike any bird of prey I’ve previously seen in the area) my first instinct was that it must be a bird that had escaped captivity!
I’m hoping someone else has had a sighting?
P.s apologies for my complete ignorance about birds - I’ve never posted before - but felt compelled by this

 

[dwatsonbirder]

Welcome to birdforum Kathryn, it is most likely that this was your bird, when seen well and at close range, impressive and majestic indeed.

 

[Kits]

Welcome to Birdforum. I hope you enjoy your visits.

 

[KenM]

5 kilos and a large yellow beak?

 

[tconzemi]

5 kilos and a large yellow beak?

White-tailed Eagle - BirdForum Opus but as Butty always says ...

 

[Richard Prior]

White-tailed Eagle - BirdForum Opus but as Butty always says ...

I was thinking the same as a possibility Tom, wasn’t there one recently in NE England?

(Kathryn, Tom’s reference to what ’Butty always says’ is reminding you that judging the size of a bird on its own is notoriously difficult!).

 

[MikeInPA]

Do

White-tailed Eagle - BirdForum Opus but as Butty always says ...

Don‘t discount the possibility of it being the Steller’s Sea Eagle 🤪

Where is the Steller’s?

 

[Butty]

very large bird of prey. It was perched and these are the things I noted:
Very large - would guess over 5kg
Very upright, majestic posture
Large yellow very impressive beak
Dark brown and brown mottled chest
Very dark overall

Welcome to BF.
Probably a common buzzard - though, without a photo, it's impossible to be sure.

 

[Farnboro John]

People routinely over-estimate weight of birds as they generally don't understand how much of the bulk is feathering or indeed how light a bird has to be to fly. Butty's Law about size also applies.

John

 

[KenM]

People routinely over-estimate weight of birds as they generally don't understand how much of the bulk is feathering or indeed how light a bird has to be to fly. Butty's Law about size also applies.

John

Yes, they also under-estimate overwintering Little Bunting aggregates on site.🤣👍

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

I'm going down the middle on this one. The OP says it's bigger than birds of prey she has seen there before. So yes it could be closer a la Father Ted, or it may be that she has seen Buzzards there in the past and this bird was huge.

 

[_pauls]

There are a few raptor collections in that area (including large eagles) - I'm sure a few years ago a dog walker came across a Steller's Sea Eagle perched on a fence not a million miles from there. (edit... Gateshead : Dog walker meets bird of prey)

Most likely a buzzard as most have said but I wouldn't rule an escaped white tail or one of the wild ones having a wander.

 

[Welsh Peregrine]

Buzzards are of course larger than Kestrels and Sparrowhawks.

 

[RichieTwitchy]

Farnboro John - Butty's Law? I think this should be made official

Stephen - Father Ted's Law?

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

Farnboro John - Butty's Law? I think this should be made official

Stephen - Father Ted's Law?

I'm not sure if you were asking what I was referring to, so just in case.

 

[RichieTwitchy]

I'm not sure if you were asking what I was referring to, so just in case.

I know the scene

Birdforum stopped me linking to the gif so I uploaded it instead

 

[tconzemi]

Farnboro John - Butty's Law? I think this should be made official

Butty's FIRST Law of Size Dynamics

 

[Butty]

it could be closer a la Father Ted, or it may be that she has seen Buzzards there in the past

I fear this misses the whole point of the size-mantra. Hey ho... 🤷🏻

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

I fear this misses the whole point of the size-mantra. Hey ho... 🤷🏻

It was a bit of fun. Applying 'Butty's Law' isn't going to prove Kathryn saw a Buzzard...

 

[Kathryn North Shields]

Welcome to birdforum Kathryn, it is most likely that this was your bird, when seen well and at close range, impressive and majestic indeed.

Thanks Daniel. Looking at the photo I don’t think so … the bird I saw had a bigger beak and there was more yellow. Also, I think the bird I saw was bigger.