Hi there,
Now, I'm not looking for massive ticks or anything, as I'm just a pitcher, and this is probably just your standard buzzard, but its wings are *very* white, and having taken a zillion pictures of the local buzzards since this madness started last July (is it only last July, blimey!) this buzzard stands out from the locals. I'm not claiming it *is* a rough-legged, but the tail is pretty white and has a band at the end. This is the first pic I've managed to get of the tail (I've seen this dazzler once before). The trouble is - due to cold and snow and having to jump out of the car quickly while eating Doritos... the pix are fuzzy, i'm afraid. But how's the jizz for you guys + gals? Any hint of rough-legged-ness about it beyond that tantalising tail?
Cheers
Steve
http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_dewey/sets/72157623533703702/ (there's birds there - and some are actually sharp!)
Common Buzzard for me Steve. I'm not getting RLB indicators from the photos. Bog standard Buzzards are notoriously variable in their plumage colouration.
JBNTS
Every day a little more irate about bird of prey persecution, and I have a cat - Got a problem with that?
Thaks both.
Unknown said: Bog standard Buzzards are notoriously variable in their plumage colouration. JBNTS
Bog standard Buzzards are notoriously variable in their plumage colouration.
Yes, I know - makes life for me very difficult ;) It was the tail when I looked at it on the screen that made me wonder. Still, that nobody suspects a RLB is good news for me - one less rarity to become obsessed about in my neck of the woods! Attempting a decent HH pic is going to be difficult enough.
Hi-
the slap-down best tail feature of RLB is a pale tail with dark sub terminal band. Check for that first, and this bird has a plain tail :)
S
For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides, binoculars, scopes, tripods, etc - put 'Birding Tips' into the search box
seymouraves said: Hi- the slap-down best tail feature of RLB is a pale tail with dark sub terminal band. Check for that first, and this bird has a plain tail :) S
Hi S -
Yes, it was another thing that made me think "Hmm, maybe" because in the first pic of the cold-Dorito-fingered photo of the fuzzy-blob, the pale tail does appear to have a dark band. Not very dark, though, and not really noticeable.
It's not always that strong/obvious, eg in this one: http://www.birdphoto.fi/lajikuvat/butlag/9butlag315i.jpg but you can still see it's there - along with other good RLB features (pale head/breast contrasting with dark belly, strong dark carpal patches and primaries on otherwise pale wings).
My blog: http://mazzaswildside.blogspot.co.uk/
My Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/124028194@N04/
Hi- and you can see the 'rough' feathered tarsi in that photo )
I was shown a 'Rough-legged buzzard' sitting on a fence post in Norfolk- and it had bare tarsi - they are visible in a good view, or not :)