Buzzard (was - What bird did I see?)

padi89

Monday I was out walking and I saw an unusual shaped bird pirched up on a telegraph pole, unusual as in I hadn't seen it before. I get a good few bird visitors to my gardens and I walk down Rusheen bay in Galway everyday so it was something I had not seen before. As I got closer it moved away so I didn't get a proper look but thinking about it this evening im trying to pin it down.
Spotted close to Rusheen Bay, i would describe the colouring as a grey brown, it didn't appear to flutter its wings fast in flight looked quite graceful. It was pretty big maybe the size of a large gull, wingspan was big. I'm pretty sure it was some type of raptor/bird of prey but I'm still puzzled. I have a sparrow hawk visit but it was way bigger. Any ideas or was I seeing things?

Mickeroo

Could it have been a buzzard maybe?

padi89

More grey than that one. Could it be a hen harrier ?

When I look at google images of honey buzzard the size looks about right.
Maybe it was a buzzard? When I look at bird watch Ireland the map area does not cover for habitat in Galway? Are these set in stone?

cuddlycavies

This years immature birds are establishing new territories. We've had reports from Galway before. Buzzards love poles, especially those lights on the motorway. They're common on the M50 now.

padi89

Will keep an eye out hope to get a better look next time

padi89

Just spotted this again today in the same area and I can confirm it is a buzzard. Flew right over my head an perched on a tree nearby.
Can't believe it's been 5 months since I posted this thread

dodderangler

padi89 wrote: »

Just spotted this again today in the same area and I can confirm it is a buzzard. Flew right over my head an perched on a tree nearby.
Can't believe it's been 5 months since I posted this thread

Plenty of them about lately
I spotted two new arrivals on some land I walk

littlebug

A buzzard at Rusheen?! Oh wow I may just have to take a walk down there this weekend. They really aren't seen that often in the West and I have never seen one at all!

dodderangler

littlebug wrote: »

A buzzard at Rusheen?! Oh wow I may just have to take a walk down there this weekend. They really aren't seen that often in the West and I have never seen one at all!

They're taken over Ireland at moment
Poppin up everywhere
I have 6 across the road from her mams house in space of bout 30 acres and they're prob breeding
I know one pair definately is

padi89

well i walk down there everyday and it's the second time i have seen it in 5 months so it will be good luck if you see it, still plenty other birds to see down there.