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What bird did I see?

  • 13-03-2017 4:13pm
    #1
    vicwatson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,404 ✭✭✭✭


    Saw a flashing of white few hundred yards from me so grabbed the binoculars and saw quite a tall bird on a tree perch, under wings were almost all white and it was brown speckled. Couldn't see the beak too well due to the distance but had a largeish wingspan. It looked like it had been scrapping as it's feathers were messed up.

    I'm looking and next two magpies come along and try attack it, then another magpie, it was definitely twice as big as a magpie, as it looked outnumbered if flew off behind hedging so lost sight of it.

    I never saw a bird like it in ireland. Could it have been a falcon? It looked lovely apart from it looking like it was scrapping.


Comments

  • #2
    OpenYourEyes
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 3,072 Mod ✭✭✭✭OpenYourEyes


    It was more than likely a Buzzard. Their plumage can vary a lot from the books - from a pale white to a dark brown, and every variation in between!


  • #3
    vicwatson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,404 ✭✭✭✭vicwatson


    OpenYourEyes wrote: »
    It was more than likely a Buzzard. Their plumage can vary a lot from the books - from a pale white to a dark brown, and every variation in between!

    And what's the scrapping all about? Would a buzzard be after magpie eggs or magpies themselves?


  • #4
    OpenYourEyes
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 3,072 Mod ✭✭✭✭OpenYourEyes


    vicwatson wrote: »
    And what's the scrapping all about? Would a buzzard be after magpie eggs or magpies themselves?

    Corvids are a significant part of their diet, but I suspect a lot of that is immature birds just after the breeding season - i.e. unsuspecting juveniles! But yeah it is common to see Buzzards (and other birds of prey) get mobbed by crows and magpies alright. They probably just feel safer when the bird of prey isn't around!


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