Bird of prey? Bath, England (1 Viewer)

[Charlie Spencer]

May 27, 2023. Northeast of Bath between the River Avon and the Kennet & Avon canal. Clear, warm day with light wind.

I was trying to get photos of active swallows. When I was reviewing the photos, I noticed this in the background. Accipiter? Falcon? Thanks for any help.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello Charlie,
any more pictures?
I think that artefacts are greatly changing impression, features here. Therefore its difficult to be sure, it might well be a Falcon (a Peregrine? A Hobby with an appearantly long tail? Another falcon?)

And although proprtions seems off, I am struggling to rule out a Pied Wagtail here. No offence you know, but please compare to the brightened picture (I hope you dont mind)

 

[Charlie Spencer]

Hello Charlie,
any more pictures?

And although proprtions seems off, I am struggling to rule out a Pied Wagtail here. No offence you know, but please compare to the brightened picture (I hope you dont mind)

Sorry, this is the only photo that happened to include this bird. And no, I don't mind you lightening it.

There were Pied Wagtails in the area. I can be satisfied with that identification, or even with Peregrine. I have solid lifer photos of both of those species from earlier in the week. I wouldn't feel bad about listing either one of those, although I probably wouldn't include the photo if Pied Wagtail is the consensus. I wouldn't feel right reporting a Hobby or other lifer based solely on this one weak photo.

 

[MartinH80]

My impression of this was pied wagtail before I saw Alexander's brightened version of the image. Having seen that, I am confident this is a pied wagtail.

 

[RafaelMatias]

Pied Wagtail is also my impression.

 

[Charlie Spencer]

Thanks, everyone!