Culbin Forest raptor (1 Viewer)

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PhilCumbria

Well-known member

• Feb 22, 2019

• #1

Was taken from the Hill 99 view tower, at Culbin Forest, Nairn - yesterday 21/02 around 5pm
Camera was set up for taking the landscapes/sunset (which was amazing!)
General feel was that it was much larger than a Buzzard.

Flew in from over the Moray Firth and Findhorn sands.

Cheers
Phil

 

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THE_FERN

Well-known member

Opus Editor

• Feb 22, 2019

• #2

Looks like Harris Hawk although difficult to be sure

 

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PhilCumbria

Well-known member

• Feb 22, 2019

• #3

Is that likely though? Size wise was much larger than Harris Hawk

 

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THE_FERN

Well-known member

Opus Editor

• Feb 23, 2019

• #4

PhilCumbria said:

Is that likely though? Size wise was much larger than Harris Hawk

Click to expand...

You tell me! So harris hawk should be roughly same size as common buzzard, but I'm not sure how one could judge if it were by itself. My understanding is they're fairly commonly encountered given the number kept by falconers. Am I wrong in thinking you've an idea what it might be yourself?

 

njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Feb 23, 2019

• #5

Most people become less likely to trust the estate of size as they become more experienced

Niels

 

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stevethehydra

Well-known member

• Feb 23, 2019

• #6

I doubt it can be conclusively identified from these photos, but I don't get the feel of a big Aquila or a Haliaeetus - more something in the buzzard/harrier size range. Harris Hawk might be a good call as, while it is Common Buzzard sized (if not a bit smaller), it does have a much more "eagle-like" head/bill shape than a CB and I have heard them referred to by falconers as "mini Golden eagles"...

 

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stevethehydra

Well-known member

• Feb 23, 2019

• #7

Actually on a second look I'm wondering if Marsh Harrier can be ruled out...

 

Hotspur

James Spencer

• Feb 23, 2019

• #8

The underwing looks good for male Marsh Harrier but the shape in the third picture looks better for Goshawk. The underwing pattern is consistent between the first and second photos suggesting it isn’t artefact. Doesn’t match hen Harrier or Goshawk on underwing pattern. Odd and probably not 100% identifiable. It’s not a Harris Hawk.

 

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PhilCumbria

Well-known member

• Feb 23, 2019

• #9

THE_FERN said:

You tell me! So harris hawk should be roughly same size as common buzzard, but I'm not sure how one could judge if it were by itself. My understanding is they're fairly commonly encountered given the number kept by falconers. Am I wrong in thinking you've an idea what it might be yourself?

Click to expand...

If I had an idea of what it was I wouldn’t have asked....

I had the idea that it wasn’t a Buzzard based on feel at the time having seen buzzards virtually every day for a number of years.

I asked about likelyhood of Harris Hawk purely based on location of sighting, i.e. not particularly close to where an escapee might roam.

 

KenM

Well-known member

• Feb 23, 2019

• #10

If it was shot early am or late pm, the rufous to the under-wing might be biased towards a low sun, if that’s the case then CBuzzard might be a candidate?

Cheers