White largeish bird in Stanhope, County Durham. (1 Viewer)

[ukbirderdurham]

Hi everyone, just had a day out in Stanhope in County Durham and saw and photographed this bird. Sorry the pictures not the best but it was quite far away. I could really do with some help on the ID. Thinking it may be a released sulphur breasted cockatoo but no idea why one would be up in the moors!

http://postimg.org/image/6gtp3uew1/

EDIT: Location; Stanhope, County Durham.

DATE 3pm, 14/5/14

 

[Samuel Perfect]

Looks like a leucistic/albino raptor or owl species, sorry can't narrow it down much more unfortunately. Any other pics?

 

[chris butterworth]

For some reason I keep coming back to Barn Owl. They can look incredibly pale / white in some lights.

 

[Andy Hurley]

Barn Owl for me too shapewise

 

[vanellus]

It looks like a Barn Owl. The clincher would be its flight. A Barn Owl is distinctively buoyant and with usually quite shallow beats. Parrots/Cockatoos flap like fury.

 

[ukbirderdurham]

http://postimg.org/image/6767b6pyj/

There's a second pic.

It seems to us to be too white for a barn own, it seems to show no dark marking at all on the back.

It was quite flappy.

 

[Samuel Perfect]

The second pic does indeed look best for Barn Owl although it still looks unusually white with no markings on the upperwing. Even given the strong light I would expect it to show at least some buff tones.

 

[dantheman]

Probably just a Snowy Owl then ...


Just looked at a few images (google SO and BO +flight respectively) - probably leucistic Barn Owl then if it really was extra-white (Snowy would show less black on feet?)

 

[vanellus]

The second pic does indeed look best for Barn Owl although it still looks unusually white with no markings on the upperwing. Even given the strong light I would expect it to show at least some buff tones.

On looking closely at blow ups of both photos, my reservation is that the head shape looks a bit thin and the projection a bit long. However it is a fuzzy shot.

 

[ukbirderdurham]

http://postimg.org/image/xsosul9hv/

Final pic (though not as good as the others it shows well how white it's back is).

 

[Jamvol12]

Could it possibly be a Little Egret caught at an angle where the legs and beak aren't showing? (Long shot I know).

 

[ukbirderdurham]

Could it possibly be a Little Egret caught at an angle where the legs and beak aren't showing? (Long shot I know).

From its flight it wasn't an egret I don't think.

 

[Jamvol12]

From its flight it wasn't an egret I don't think.

Figured it probably wasn't the case... just couldn't think of many other pure white birds like the photos show. The way it's holding its wings doesn't look right for an Owl.

 

[martin kitching]

Is there something in particular that you think isn't right for an owl?

cheers
martin

The way it's holding its wings doesn't look right for an Owl.