Saturday afternoon wander down the river

Great images as usual Ian.

As regards the raptor ID, I think the perched ones are Honey Buzzards and although I'm pretty useless at 'foreign' eagles I'd edge towards it being an Eagle species rather than a Long-legged Buzzard on structure and general colour. Do you get Tawny / Steppe Eagles in your area?

All the best,
Dave

Post by **dragonchaser** » Mon Nov 26, 2018 2:52 pm

You encounter some fantastic wildlife during your wanderings, great post as always.

Post by **WorldInFocus** » Mon Nov 26, 2018 4:02 pm

davem wrote: ↑
Mon Nov 26, 2018 2:29 pm
Great images as usual Ian.

As regards the raptor ID, I think the perched ones are Honey Buzzards and although I'm pretty useless at 'foreign' eagles I'd edge towards it being an Eagle species rather than a Long-legged Buzzard on structure and general colour. Do you get Tawny / Steppe Eagles in your area?

All the best,
Dave

HI Dave,

The two perched birds are definitely Honey Buzzard I thought initializing they were the pair of Osprey I had spotted previously but unfortunately are not. We do get Steppe/Tawny Eagles but the size was no where near that of an eagle. I have seen Long Legged Buzzards here before.

Ian C

Post by **capercaillie** » Wed Nov 28, 2018 3:22 pm

Hi Ian,

I'm afraid Dave is correct, they are definitely not Ospreys. Ospreys never have extensive streaking below on their breasts and bellies and would be pure white below and also have a heavy black stripe through the eye.
http://www.wackyroger.com/z-photogaller ... ey0005.jpg
Certainly a species of honey buzzard, of which European is the one that seems to pass through. They are shots of a species I'd be very pleased with to be honest, far more difficult to get near over here than Ospreys.

As for the bird flying away, nearest I would suggest based on the overall dark undersides, wing pattern, the smallish bill and its pattern and dark area around the eye is Black Kite. The tail is never that obviously forked from certain angles. Do you have more from the sequence to try and give a more overall general feeling of shape?

Like the Bee-eater.

Post by **WorldInFocus** » Wed Nov 28, 2018 3:34 pm

capercaillie wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 28, 2018 3:22 pm
Hi Ian,

I'm afraid Dave is correct, they are definitely not Ospreys. Ospreys never have extensive streaking below on their breasts and bellies and would be pure white below and also have a heavy black stripe through the eye.
http://www.wackyroger.com/z-photogaller ... ey0005.jpg
Certainly a species of honey buzzard, of which European is the one that seems to pass through. They are shots of a species I'd be very pleased with to be honest, far more difficult to get near over here than Ospreys.

As for the bird flying away, nearest I would suggest based on the overall dark undersides, wing pattern, the smallish bill and its pattern and dark area around the eye is Black Kite. The tail is never that obviously forked from certain angles. Do you have more from the sequence to try and give a more overall general feeling of shape?

Like the Bee-eater.

Hi Capercaille,

Yeah, I agree they are very different to the Ospreys I spotted the weeks before.

https://flic.kr/p/QjgV7Y

I've never seen Honey Buzzards around Taif, in the 6 years or so I'd been around. A nice addition to the list.

Unfortunately I didn't manage to get more than a quick shot off on the other raptor, he certainly wasn't hanging around once he'd seen me.

Glad you liked the Bee Eater always one of my favourites.

Ian C

Saturday afternoon wander down the river

Saturday afternoon wander down the river

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