Medium/Large bird of prey on N25 Waterford to Kilmacthomas (toll road).

bobbysands81

I've seen this bird 3 times in the last 2 weeks, usually late evening.

I'm fairly poor at recognising birds but the size of this caught my eye a couple of times.

It's got a 'v' shape in its tail and a line of grey feathers on its wings, anyone know what it might be?

Whilst driving by the other day it was flying very close to trees and I thought another bird of the same type joined it.

Is there any good resource out there that might help me recognise birds in flight? I have a couple of books but the don't seem to have helped me at all as its when driving that I tend to spot the 'exotic' ones and the books tend to have the birds standing rather than in flight.

Mickeroo

bobbysands81 wrote: »

I've seen this bird 3 times in the last 2 weeks, usually late evening.

I'm fairly poor at recognising birds but the size of this caught my eye a couple of times.

It's got a 'v' shape in its tail and a line of grey feathers on its wings, anyone know what it might be?

Whilst driving by the other day it was flying very close to trees and I thought another bird of the same type joined it.

Buzzard maybe? Would make sense for the part of the country you're in too.

bobbysands81

Mickeroo wrote: »

Buzzard maybe? Would make sense for the part of the country you're in too.

Brilliant.

That's it.

Really appreciate that.

Fairly sure it's nesting where I've seen it so I'll be keeping an eye out for it now.

Mickeroo

No problem. I was in Wicklow recently and only saw one for the first time, don't really see them in the west. They're great to watch.

magicbastarder

this thread worked out better than i expected. from the thread title, i assumed it was roadkill.

teggers5

are buzzards on the increase?
been seeing lots of them recently.

whyulittle

Also worth looking at Red Kite, has a more distinctive forked tail in general appearance.

fleabag

I've seen a good few buzzards around Kilmac - especially from Kilmac town up on the Greenway - I saw five there all at once last summer. Waterford is pretty stuffed with them, come across them fairly regularly in Lismore and just inland from Stradbally too. Fantastic birds, love their lonely call too.

gw80

Yes these are buzzards, been watching them for the last two years. <snip>

OpenYourEyes

Mod Note:

No giving out locations of breeding birds of prey! There are people who unfortunately don't realise the many benefits of having birds like Buzzards around them!