Re: mystery bird spotted.

Hi,

I never post on here but i need to find out what i just saw. I was driving home on the dreaded A2 this late afternoon. I was at the Bluewater/Bean exit  travelling coast bound at 15.44. I saw a very large bird of prey fly across the motorway from left to right. it was very low maybe only 30ft up moving slowly, so much so at first i thought it must be a heron. It was overall grey in colour with maybe a hint of brown(remember i was travelling at about 70mph). It was not a peregrine, it was bigger i assure you. Have there been any reports of sightings in the kent area of odd birds of prey?? It looked more like a buzzard or harrier. Very strange to see what i saw this eve i grant you but I saw it none the less. I've looked through the handbook and the closest match seems to be a rough legged buzzard. Obviously i have no evidence just my word that it wasn't easily identifiable. Keep your eyes peeled if you live in the area. cheers, mike

Hi Mike can't help you with the ID but here is a welcome to the forum from the Irish fraternity, but there will be some of the members that will know what it was.

regards Mick

Welcome to the forum Mike from Sheffield.

Hope someone can help you with the ID but it may remain one of lifes mysteries.

Doesnt sound like an RLB IMO, prehaps young male hen/Male Marsh harrier. Size is impossible to judge, and true size comes from comparison.

From you description i cant rule out Merlin, Sparrowhawk, Perigrine, Goshawk or Kestrel, so youll never know honestly.

Hi and welcome to the forum, gievn the large size then common buzzard, red kite or marsh harrier are worth considering. Given the timing, shortly before nightfall, could it also be a short-eared owl? Have a look at these species on our bird guide and see if any come close!

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/a/

hi,

thanks for the responses. Im very familiar with marsh harrier's and it definitely wasnt a short eared owl. I'll have to conclude that it was a common buzzard with very light/grey colourings rather than the very extremely unlikely rough legged buzzard. thanks again