Sunday 8 April 2012

Another Day at Maza

Well the normal idiots, kids and their dogs were out in force, must be bank holiday!!! I did mange some closer views of the Black Tailed Godwits and a distant possible view of a Hen Harrier? See picture.  I should have more time this week weather permitting to get out and about a bit more.  Onto the pictures:

Black Tailed Godwit

Black Tailed Godwit
Here is a second view of the bird below, don't know if it helps id or not?

Thought this was a Hen Harrier as it looked to me it was just smaller than a buzzard,  thanks to Mike and Steve who have viewed the images and  id'd the bird as a Sparrowhawk



Grey Heron

9 comments:

theconstantwalker said...

Godwits are wonderful birds to see...
I love to capture camcorder clips of my wildlife.. Banks Hols and weekends end up with a change of audio to drown out the noise.
Take care.

Mike Coleman said...

Hi Bob
I don't think there can be any doubt that the raptor is an imm female Sparrowhawk - short wing/ long square - ended tail, tiny non - protruding head / bill & lack of barrel chested appearance or thick under tail coverts.
Spotted underwing coverts with barred underside body feathers are all wrong for Goshawk imm or adult plumage as well.
I'd welcome the views of others as ever, especially Steve's.
regards
Mike

Bobbster said...

Hi Mike,

I think it was to large to be a sparrowhawk? The bird looked almost Buzzard size. I have sent out another photo (which Steve has not had the benefit of viewing)so hopefully I will get a confirmed ID soon be it Goshawk or Sparrow hawk.

Mike Coleman said...

Thanks for the reply Bob - raptor ID at distance is always difficult !
I should also have added that Gos does not show heavy barring of breast & flight feathers.
It's a classic Sparrowhawk plumage feature of Imm / adult birds.
Juv Gos has well - marked barred flight feathers but always has heavily streaked, not barred underside body feathers.Adult Gos bars on underside of body are relatively fine.
It would be good to see another image of this one but it shows features of Sparrowhawk only, not Gos, in my view.
regards
Mike

Bobbster said...

Hi Mike, Thank you for all the feedback on the ID of the bird, I will post another view to assist with ID,

Cheers Bob

Mike Coleman said...

Hi Bob
Useful learning curve.
I'm even more confused now as your original caption stated that Steve had identified it as a Gos ?!

regards
Mike

Bobbster said...

Hi Mike,

Steve revised his original id on viewing of that second image, but also is open to others suggestions as am I. How ever the fact that you both now say it is a most likely Sparrowhawk is good enough for me. So thanks to you both.

Monts said...

Great set Bob esp the Godwits.

Mike Coleman said...

Cheers Bob
Hopefully not too long long before I get back down to Maza.
regards
Mike