Any I.D.-ers?

[brookey]

Hi all - my first post. No pic either, just a description...

• shape: like some kind of falcon (but see description of beak).
• size: slightly larger than a pigeon.
• colour: dark on its head, back, wings, tail; white (not speckled) from throat to flank.
• beak: small and not very aquiline.
• setting: semi-rural, 1 mile inland from NW coast,

between Blackpool and Morecambe. It was clinging to the upright of a TV aerial.

I saw this for only a few seconds, so I did not see it in flight or get a clear look at its legs or eyes. (I was carrying a heavy item into the shed and when I returned it had gone.)

Could it have been a juvenile sparrowhawk or some sort of harrier?

My knowledge is mainly of garden birds.

[clydebirder]

Originally Posted by brookey

Hi all - my first post. No pic either, just a description...

• shape: like some kind of falcon (but see description of beak).
• size: slightly larger than a pigeon.
• colour: dark on its head, back, wings, tail; white (not speckled) from throat to flank.
• beak: small and not very aquiline.
• setting: semi-rural, 1 mile inland from NW coast,

between Blackpool and Morecambe. It was clinging to the upright of a TV aerial.

I saw this for only a few seconds, so I did not see it in flight or get a clear look at its legs or eyes. (I was carrying a heavy item into the shed and when I returned it had gone.)

Could it have been a juvenile sparrowhawk or some sort of harrier?

My knowledge is mainly of garden birds.

It definately wouldn't be a harrier and Sparrowhawk couldn't perch on the upright of a TV aerial and wouldn't have a white front, could it have been a juvenile Magpie? can't think of anything else it could be which would remotely resemble that description

Cheers, John

[brookey]

Thanks for the reply, John, but nope - it sure wasn't a magpie. I'll keep my camera handy and hopefully post a picture with any updates.

[clydebirder]

Originally Posted by brookey

Thanks for the reply, John, but nope - it sure wasn't a magpie. I'll keep my camera handy and hopefully post a picture with any updates.

Hope you get a photo, can't think for the life of me what it could be, Magpie is the only perching bird that size that has a white front. The nearest other bird with a white front would be Great Spotted Woodpecker but they arent larger than a pigeon

very puzzling

[Chrissy]

A Peregrine falcon would fit the description ...but I have never seen one on an aerial

[Twitcheruth]

Welcome to the forum Brookey!
Given that you are quite near to the coast could it have been a Gull/Tern?
Hope you get to see it again!

[clydebirder]

Originally Posted by Chrissy

A Peregrine falcon would fit the description ...but I have never seen one on an aerial

Peregrines dont have a plain white front, they have horizontal stripes and couldn't perch on an upright pole

cheers, John

[clydebirder]

Originally Posted by Twitcheruth

Welcome to the forum Brookey!
Given that you are quite near to the coast could it have been a Gull/Tern?
Hope you get to see it again!

I would liove to see a gull or tern trying to perch on an upright pole

[alanjns]

I haven't got a clue, but welcome to the forum.

You have us all intrigued - we need a photo!

[astafjevs]

I'm sure it wasn't, but the bird I'm picturing based on the original description is a great grey shrike.