Hen harrier, Dublin mountains

Curiousness99

Was up the hills earlier and saw a medium sized bird of prey ahead, Assumed it was a buzzard But it looked different in flight and it had a distinctive white Coloured rump above its tail, after looking at some images, it looks like it was a hen harrier (Female I assume)

It was feeding on a dead grouse (looked like a juvenile bird based on size) heather covered hill

Be interested to know if anyone knows if there’s been sitings of hen harriers around the Dublin mountains

Thanks

lucalux

http://www.irishbirding.com/birds/web

Howth peninsula showing up for one anyway

gzoladz

Curiousness99 wrote: »

Was up the hills earlier and saw a medium sized bird of prey ahead, Assumed it was a buzzard But it looked different in flight and it had a distinctive white Coloured rump above its tail, after looking at some images, it looks like it was a hen harrier (Female I assume)

It was feeding on a dead grouse (looked like a juvenile bird based on size) heather covered hill

Be interested to know if anyone knows if there’s been sitings of hen harriers around the Dublin mountains

Thanks

Or Red Kite?

Curiousness99

gzoladz wrote: »

Or Red Kite?

I’ve seen a fair few down Wicklow and the tail is pretty distinctive too, I can’t be certain but I don’t think it was

Curiousness99

Curiousness99 wrote: »

I’ve seen a fair few down Wicklow and the tail is pretty distinctive too, I can’t be certain but I don’t think it was

By coincidence I saw my first red kite in ages just a couple of days ago, I only see the Very odd one where I am, beautiful bird to see in flight close up.

Saw 7 or 8 grouse close together earlier today, sheltered (from wind) side of the Hill, great to see good numbers about