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Odd BOP?.....N.East London. (1 Viewer)

KenM

KenM

Well-known member
Allowing for the fact that it is one of the worst film clips that I've ever taken, with subject out of focus and obscured. It does have some merit though I believe, regarding attempting an ID?

I have a hunch but only that! My problem is with the tail, which to my eye appears ''pale?''.

Objective comments appreciated, taken Saturday Nov.10th.

Cheers https://youtu.be/dn6iE8KhMzI
 
Looks and flies like a Common Buzzard to me. Lacks the longer-winged, more 'eagle-like' silhouette of Rough-leg, if that's what you're angling for. Your eyesight must be exceptional; I can't even distinguish the tail clearly, let alone assess what colour it is!

RB
 
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Rotherbirder said:
Looks and flies like a Common Buzzard to me. Lacks the longer-winged, more 'eagle-like' silhouette of Rough-leg, if that's what your angling for. Your eyesight must be exceptional; I can't even distinguish the tail clearly, let alone assess what colour it is!

RB
Click to expand...

Here are a few grabs from the clip....am thinking image 3 is showing a longer tail than one might expect from a Buteo?
 

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  • P1810823.jpeg Buzby 823.jpg
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  • P1810831.jpeg BOP sp 102.jpg
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KenM said:
.am thinking image 3 is showing a longer tail than one might expect from a Buteo?
Click to expand...

Ken, remember that CB juveniles show a slightly longer tail than adults. I find that this is often disconcerting and the field impression is surprisingly noticeable. I think you ought to try and age your CBs ;)
 
Simon Wates said:
Ken, remember that CB juveniles show a slightly longer tail than adults. I find that this is often disconcerting and the field impression is surprisingly noticeable. I think you ought to try and age your CBs ;)
Click to expand...

Ah yes Simon! I've never noticed a tail difference on CB's between Adults and Juvs. probably down to my pre-occupation with the under-parts, and the existence, or absence, of tail barring.

However my main concern was the ''faintness'' of the tail compared to the body on the profile grabs and was attributing it to the camera's ''contrast'' focusing which as I understand it....is governed by the grey scale limit, as set on Panasonic cameras.

Thus I reasoned that it would be biased towards the darker tones under the prevailing ambient lighting with pale tones almost disappearing.

Going through my gallery I found this (much better image) showing an imm. CB, with an almost ''contrasting'' paler longer tail...which was most instructive.

The moral here is....get better images. :)
 

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My way to ID has never been with photos - I really do prefer to try and scope anything that's being difficult in the field and resolve the ID there. Of course there are times a wished I had a half decent camera with me :t:
 
Simon Wates said:
My way to ID has never been with photos - I really do prefer to try and scope anything that's being difficult in the field and resolve the ID there. Of course there are times a wished I had a half decent camera with me :t:
Click to expand...

Words of wisdom indeed. If you can't trust your eyes, why trust a dodgy, artifact-blighted digital image!?

RB
 
Rotherbirder said:
Words of wisdom indeed. If you can't trust your eyes, why trust a dodgy, artifact-blighted digital image!?

RB
Click to expand...

My modus operandi as far as optics is concerned is...if at distance or “close in”, Bins then “film clip”. Overall for me...a record of events with access to images after the event for possible reference. The bird in question was singularly to the limitational extreme, however a good excercise nonetheless. I find that digital images invariably give a proportional and cosmetically accurate account of “what’s on offer”, and allows one to see at 25 frames per second, something that would have been too fast to register with the naked eye!
 
Rotherbirder said:
Looks and flies like a Common Buzzard to me. Lacks the longer-winged, more 'eagle-like' silhouette of Rough-leg, if that's what you're angling for. Your eyesight must be exceptional; I can't even distinguish the tail clearly, let alone assess what colour it is!

RB
Click to expand...

Big apologies. But have just realised that "assess" is an extraordinarily rare word. It is actually one of the only known english words where a double-plural is acceptable. Perhaps because there are so many of them about! :cat:

Agree with CB ID.
 
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