Bird of Prey, what might it have been ?

[dseered]

Spotted in Cumbria and hovering, I had the 100-400 in the boot but by the time I had grasstracked the car it had vanished, I did get a great view though and was a bit befuzzled as to what the hell it was as I have never seen anything like it on my travels around these parts !

Size = Medium to Large Buzzard

Shape = Red Kite

Colour = Almost pure white all over, I saw it hover, I saw it swoop, so underbelly and overbody, White, white , white !

What a stunner but what the hell was it, tail was very fanned and as I say the only thing I can liken it to in my book is a Red Kite, except it was White.

Location noted, so I will be back !

 

[dseered]

Anybody ?

 

[Cobra]

Albinoism isn't that uncommon, young buzzards can be quite pale,
the only true white hawk it may have been would be a Gyr falcon they have been known to come as far south as the scottish highlands but are more native to N. America, Iceland etc.
Impossible to tell really but from you discription I would say more likely Buteo but buzzards are not really built to "hovver"

 

[dseered]

Albinoism isn't that uncommon, young buzzards can be quite pale,
the only true white hawk it may have been would be a Gyr falcon they have been known to come as far south as the scottish highlands but are more native to N. America, Iceland etc.
Impossible to tell really but from you discription I would say more likely Buteo but buzzards are not really built to "hovver"

Cheers Cobra, this was about 20 miles south of the Scottish border, at Cockermouth, looking at the Gyr Falcon pics it looks very similar, especially the tail feathers, how does the Gry size compare to a Buzzard ?

 

[Double_Agent]

The only bird of prey that can hover is a Kestrel.

No other bird of prey can hover but they can simulate by flying very slowly into the wind.

 

[Cobra]

Cheers Cobra, this was about 20 miles south of the Scottish border, at Cockermouth, looking at the Gyr Falcon pics it looks very similar, especially the tail feathers, how does the Gry size compare to a Buzzard ?

In the air a large female Gyr would look about buzzard sized with a wing span of around 36-40ins buzzards around 40-48 inches

The only bird of prey that can hover is a Kestrel.

Thats not quite true although Kestrels are undoubtedly the masters of "hover"
Sparrowhawks are quite good at it, Gos's will for short periods, and many other birds too,
But not for prolonged periods.
Any hawk will "nose into the wind" including peregrines ( and other long wings)

 

[dseered]

Yeah, it was nose in the wind, flap a bit, swoop, do the same again, sorry I mislead by saying it was hovering !

Be befuzzled by this now, will have to go back and see if it shows up again !