Calling STW birders – Bird ID help required (Glossop area)

I have a query about a bird we spotted in Glossop town centre yesterday – for those not familiar with the area, although it was a town centre spotting, GLossop is surrounded by moors and it’s less than a couple of miles to high moorland such as Kinder

The time was around 2pm (Saturday 2nd March) when we noticed flocks of pigeons and jackdaws going mad, leading us to think there was a raptor of some kind hanging around. Eventually we spotted it but I’m struggling to identify it. We only saw it from below – the wing profile was very broad and square, i.e. not pointed at the ends and the leading edge was straight rather than angled. The underside was light coloured, the wings being white with a dark bar at each end inside of the tips. The tail was straight, rather than curved or v-shaped as for a kite.

We’ve seen Red kites in that area before, but the tail leads me to believe it’s not a kite. I’ve checked various sources online and have a couple of ideas of what it might be, but just wanted to check on here – will hold my ideas so I don’t prejudice anyone else’s thoughts

Cheers all

A Jubjub?
Beware……..

or a frumious bandersnatch?

In terms of colouration buzzards cover the whole range of black white and brown. Sounds like a buzzard. Cant be anything else. Goshawks ueed to breed in the derwent area, but they are never seen over built up areas.edit- some halfbred game keeper killed the last one 2 years ago!

We get loads of buzzards round here and I’m 95% certain it wasn’t a buzzard. Should mention it was gliding and circling rather flap-flap-gliding

I was with nbt when we saw the bird circling it’s prey.
So definitely not a buzzard, Red kite, sparrow hawk (as the guy standing next to us suggested) or the stock reply of baby robin 🙂

Sharkie to the forum please.

The wing profile says its a buzzard, all smaller raptors like sparrowhawks have narrow, tapered wings, and long, narrow tails. Ravens often get mobbed by other corvid, but their wings are tapered at the ends, rather than broad with spread primaries like a rook or carrion crow.
I can’t think of a single raptor in England with broad, square-ish wings, and a square-ish tail, other than a buzzard. Kites have long, cranked wings, along with the forked tail that’s constantly twisting and turning in flight.

Common Buzzard

Honey Buzzard

Golden Eagle.

Or a Buzzard. Probably a Buzzard.

Baby Robin?

A buzzard is unlikely to spook other birds. My first thought would have been goshawk but possibly a hen harrier; although a winter visitor they’re getting more common.

Peregrine?

Hen harrier:

well done houns 🙂

not a peregrine – have seen them and they have the pointy wing tips and the arched front typical of most UK birds of prey

I’ll be honest, having looked online the Hen harrier is the one I was thinking

Matches your wing profile description.

Yes, we thought hen harrier too.
psling – your photo is the best we’ve seen for identification.

Definetly a Dragon

A buzzard is unlikely to spook other birds

I’ve watched flocks of rooks, crows and jackdaws mobbing buzzards, and even smaller birds getting involved as well. I’ve also watched rooks and crows mobbing ravens; they see them as just as much a predator as the buzzards and kites.

I’ve seen buzzard being buzzed by crows, but in this case the birds weren’t buzzing the raptor, the flocks where wheeling in avoidance

You don’t say anything about size? I’m guessing you had no reference point.

The thing I’d therefore rely on, is wing beat or the way it was flying. Contrary to what count zero says, sparrow hawks have fat, wide wings. I’d say sparrow hawk is most likely, especially if it seemed to be actively hunting rather than soaring about having fun or just passing over.

http://www.arkive.org/eurasian-sparrowhawk/accipiter-nisus/image-G43837.html

Edit – wrong link!!

Goshawk?

Definitely sounds like a hawk rather than a falcon (falcons have pointed wings)

No, it was flying as were the jackdaws and pigeons – don’t recall seeing them cross paths so couldn’t get an accurate size

Might have been a goshawk, possibly a sparrowhawk – we’ve seen sparrowhawks before though, we have one who visits our garden, so I’m less convinced on that one

Surly-faced shitehawk?

I’d of said a Buzzard. With a chance of another raptor in the area causing the disturbance.

If it was a bright day, the additional therms coming off a built up area.

The hunting seems wrong for hawks and harriers, if it was circling high and sounds the wrong habitat for a Goshawk.

Keeping raptors as pets, seem to be the new staffie, these days, so it could be anything if it’s a captive bird, that’s free flying worked well. In fact many falconers are contracted by town councils to deal with pigeons and other birds seen as vermin.

But if you’re sure it’s not a Buzzard, then it’s likely to be a captive.

My knowledge is however limited on the behaviour of UK raptors, so to give a definite answer, shouldn’t be seen as fact.

There’s at least one pair of Eagle Owls living near Glossop at the moment

would be lovely to see them but they’re largely nocturnal and the tail profile doesn’t match what we saw

Jules – I saw one of them the other day on a rooftop in Charlesworth – quite spectacular!

James – I’m going to keep my eye open for an Eagle owl, as I go through Charlesworth alot.
Thanks for all the ideas, I’m still guessing it was a Hen Harrier.

We are familiar with sparrow hawks, buzzards, kestrels and it definitely wasn’t any of those.

I’ve seen a few unidentifiable birds in Glossop town centre over the years…..

My coat? Why thank you….

I would have said it was very unlikely a Hen Harrier due to the rarity of the bird (It would most probably have been mistaken for a buzzard any way)
It’s not unknown that a Sparrow hawk to flight higher when commuting and it does have the broader wing and tail that you describe. Wrong time of year for the Honey Buzzard.
Not knowing the size I reckon either a Female Sparrow Hawk or Buzzard. Just to throw another into the mix what about a Marsh Harrier but
more likely would be migrating and would like a Hen Harrier have quite a floaty flight.Do you get Short eared Owls round there as these are common hunters during the day.
RSPB

I saw a short eared owl nearby (ish) recently and in the day. Ideal habitat on the outskirts of glossop too. Dark patches on the wing also. The thing that always hits me is the length of their wings. Almost unmistakeable. Surprising over the town if right though.

I agree about the sparrowhawk at height comment, I’ve had the odd sighting quite high recently, when all I ever used to see was them bombing around over the garden fence etc, which is usually how/when I’ve always seen them.

That Sesna pic was exactly what I was thinking from the description as well 😆