White Tailed Kite??

GixxerThou

Wasm out in Lismore, Co Waterford today and saw a bird of prey I havent seen before.. Was similar size and shape to red kites that are local to me in wicklow but was white and grey with black wing tips, did a google search and it seems it was a white tailed kite.. Are these birds common in Ireland? I certainly havent seen one before.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Look up Hen Harriers.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/h/henharrier/index.aspx

GixxerThou

That's him! Thanks!

Ditch

GixxerThou wrote: »

That's him! Thanks!

Oh, thank god for that! For a split second there, I had an awful premonition of This craic kicking off here, like it was going viral!

Clue; Taxi!!!

boneless

He should be heading back inland soon to breed ... I wonder if he is one of the Slievebloom birds?

frostfrosty

GixxerThou wrote: »

That's him! Thanks!

Nice spot!! they really are beautiful birds. I was lucky enough to see two males last summer hunting over the moors.

they have to be my favourite Irish bird of prey.

Connacht

I noticed on irishbirding.com there were an incredible 10 seen recently at Tacumshin.
http://www.irishbirding.com/birds/web/Display/sighting/31014/Hen_Harrier.html

Birdnuts

Connacht wrote: »

I noticed on irishbirding.com there were an incredible 10 seen recently at Tacumshin.
http://www.irishbirding.com/birds/web/Display/sighting/31014/Hen_Harrier.html

Even more surprising is a second Black Kite turning up recently on Tory Island - thats 2 within a few months. Given its normal range in Europe it is hard to fathom what these birds were doing in this part of the world