mystery bird

[michael23]

lets see how long this one takes to be identified!
http://i692.photobucket.com/albums/vv283/michael23_photo/036.jpg

[Colin Key]

Long-tailed Tit.

Colin

[michael23]

that didnt take long did it!
:smile::beer:

[Colin Key]

12 minutes, but I am a bit slow today!!!:laugh:

Colin :smile:

[MichaelF]

OK, let's see who can identify this (rather poor quality!) photo. Yes, it is a bird!

[exeter_uk]

Im going to go with grey heron for MichealF, but its a total guess!

[Colin Key]

Male Hen Harrier.

Colin

[Colin Key]

rather poor quality! photo.

Hmmm!!

:laugh::ohdear::err:

Colin

[michael23]

i think i would agree with a grey heron, that was my first impression of the photo

[Colin Key]

i think i would agree with a grey heron, that was my first impression of the photo

The apparent size of the bird (if that is what it is!) in relation to the vegetation is wrong, the habitat is wrong, there is no pale breast or long bill, and no-one would post a photo of a Grey Heron as a "mystery bird", would they?

As "Brucie" would say: "Good game, good game".

Colin :biggrin:

P.S. Michael, you must be the only birder using disposable Kodak cameras!!!:laugh::wink:

[exeter_uk]

The apparent size of the bird (if that is what it is!) in relation to the vegetation is wrong, the habitat is wrong, there is no pale breast or long bill, and no-one would post a photo of a Grey Heron as a "mystery bird", would they?

As "Brucie" would say: "Good game, good game".

Colin :biggrin:

P.S. Michael, you must be the only birder using disposable Kodak cameras!!!:laugh::wink:

All i can make out from the photo is a grayish blue that is taller then it is wide!! hence a grey heron! haha.

[michael23]

it could have its back to the camera,:err:: !:smile:

[MichaelF]

Not a Grey Heron, nor a male Hen Harrier. But yes, "greyish blue that is taller then it is wide" is right (at least when it was perching upright!).

Clue: the bird is perched on top of a slender young tree, and the camera (as usual) focussed on the background instead of on the target. Oh, and the bird was a long way off!

[Dave_N]

Hi,

could it be a Barn owl ? could be longish legs there ....

D

[Morg]

I don't think the grey patch is the bird. Instead there is a passerine just to the right. It is definitely a linnet

or a cirl bunting

or a whinchat

or a whitethroat

or something else.

I am pretty sure that the last answer might be correct (unless the grey smudge is the bird!!:eek:)

Geoff

[Steve Keen]

Isn't that Elvis lurking in the background just above centre on the right hand side?

[Steve Keen]

Left hand side I meant.

Never post this close to midnight without the benefit of alcohol.

[MichaelF]

unless the grey smudge is the bird!!:eek:
It is!

Nope, not an Elvis either . . . I'd never twitch one of those :ohdear:

[AndyB]

Siberian Thrush in flight flying away from camera

[MichaelF]

Nope! .

[michael23]

great blue heron,
probably a long way off:laugh:

[Colin Key]

Black-crowned Night Heron perched on Lord Lucan's shoulder :eek:.

Colin

[MichaelF]

great blue heron
Nope! It is great, but grey, not blue!

[Graham Etherington]

Great Grey Shrike.

[MichaelF]

Yep! Great Grey Shrike it is.

Black Lough near Edlingham, 4 March 2009. Pic taken from about 250m range (that was as close as one could get to where it was on private land).

[Colin Key]

Great Grey Shrike.

But you got there virtually via a "crossword clue", not the image Graham! :laugh:

Colin

P.S. Wonder if Michael has considered entering for "Wildlife Photographer of the Year"? :biggrin:

[MichaelF]

P.S. Wonder if Michael has considered entering for "Wildlife Photographer of the Year"? :biggrin:
Hadn't thought of that! Have to give it a go. Most photo competitions, they usually have a category for the Best Blur Effect photo . . .

[Morg]

Looks more like a Great Grey Stripe to me. :laugh:

See what you can do with this one...

Geoff

[GERRYCOLA@YAHOO.CO.UK]

is there any point to this?

[Morg]

Obviously not.

But, you know, life's about more than 'point'.

Geoff:smile:

[MichaelF]

Marsh Harrier?

is there any point to this?
No, but it's fun!

[Morg]

Not a harrier

[MichaelF]

Black Kite?

[Morg]

Not a kite either

photographed in Scotland

Geoff

[stenura]

Looks like a Nightjar.

[Colin Key]

Rather worried about the date and time on that image: 03-06-2009 08.44 PM

Colin :err:

[Morg]

I think that is when I cropped it in iPhoto yesterday!

Photo taken on 30 Jan this year, and it is a raptor...

[MichaelF]

On the third of June 2009???

[Morg]

month and day the other way round - 6th March rather than 3rd of june!

[michael23]

kestrel??
:beer:

[Colin Key]

Hobby or Red-footed Falcon (I would go for the latter, but think it a bit doubtful in Scotland at that time of year).

Colin

[Morg]

Here's another picture of the same bird - should make it a bit easier...

I took the photos as dusk was approaching which explains the terrible quality.

Geoff

[Bobolink44]

Golden Eagle, although that first photo really is a toughie - it looks so rakish

[Morg]

Not an eagle either...

Geoff

[Colin Key]

Hmmm!:err:

I cannot believe that the two shots Geoff has posted are of the same bird. The first image was numbered IMG.8284 and the second IMG.8266 - could we see some of the shots taken in-between?

The latest image is looking now more like Honey Buzzard, but the first sure as heck isn't.

Colin

[michael23]

any chance it could be a rough legged buzzard?

:puzzled:

[Graham Etherington]

But you got there virtually via a "crossword clue", not the image Graham! :laugh:

Colin

P.S. Wonder if Michael has considered entering for "Wildlife Photographer of the Year"? :biggrin:

To be fair (on me) it was the "Clue: the bird is perched on top of a slender young tree," which gave it away. There wasn't much else it could be.

Common Buzzard for the current onel

[Morg]

Well done Graham, it is a common buzzard

Though Michael23 was very close as I was firing off shots as it had a pale base to the tail and was hovering.

Colin: Both shots are from same bird (do you think I would cheat!:eek:) - here are a few of the others...

Geoff

[edit: sorry the filesize of these pics is massive - forgot to resize - hope they don't eat your bandwidth......]

[michael23]

well done!
very challenging geoff! enjoyed that one.