Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England - Bird of Prey ID (1 Viewer)

[EmilyKate]

I apologise for the super blurry images, I was photographing something else and just had to swing the camera around when my partner noticed this bird.

We were thinking potentially something along the lines of hen harrier, possiboy…?

Thanks!

Em

 

[markm]

Looks very much like an osprey.

 

[Farnboro John]

Concur Osprey. Very long wings, very white underside contrasting with dark head/neck, shortish tail..

John

 

[Eranou]

Yes, Osprey, for the above mentioned reasons and you can just see the white on top of the head in one of the photos.

 

[EmilyKate]

Thank you markm, Farnbiro John and Eranou! I really appreciate you replying to my post.

Osprey it is!

 

[MacNara]

Osprey.

Ospreys are common in Japan where I live, but I recall that when I was a child growing up in England, if Ospreys bred in Britain (usually Scotland, if I remember), it was on the TV news, but the exact location was kept secret to protect the birds. I think it had been extinct at one point in Britain, but is doing better now.

So, well done. I hope you can find it again and get good pictures for yourselves.

(Your photos 5 and 3 enlarged and brightened showing the white cap face pattern and the underwing pattern.)

 

[EmilyKate]

Osprey.

Ospreys are common in Japan where I live, but I recall that when I was a child growing up in England, if Ospreys bred in Britain (usually Scotland, if I remember), it was on the TV news, but the exact location was kept secret to protect the birds. I think it had been extinct at one point in Britain, but is doing better now.

So, well done. I hope you can find it again and get good pictures for yourselves.

(Your photos 5 and 3 enlarged and brightened showing the white cap face pattern and the underwing pattern.)

View attachment 1444698View attachment 1444699

Definitely my first osprey sighting! Let’s hope the capture is better next time 😆
It must be wonderful to see ospreys in Japan, as a common sighting!
Thank you for replying to me - and apol for my delay in getting back to you.

~ Emily