Off Topic Vote for a National Bird (feathered variety)

The big, brown bird of prey was probably a Buzzard.
Any water or marshland nearby? Then Marsh Harriers come into the equation. Short Eared Owls also look like a brown bird of prey and hunt by day.
Do you get Red Kites there?

 

Having looked at pictures of the three and the owl I’m pretty sure it (they, there were a couple) was a buzzard. Not much real marsh around here, a couple of meadows they are attempting to re- wild as water meadows on the Avon flood plain - which was where I was walking to dog this morning.
Not sure about red kites, but then again I only started paying attention yesterday!

 

Buzzards are my favourite bird of prey. Miniature Eagles!
They have chunkier wings than Kites and sometimes hover like a Kestrel.
Kites have a distinctive forked tail. Both look a similar size in the sky.
Buzzards are around 4.5ft wingspan.
Kites around 5.5ft.

 

Heard, and then saw, (lurking in a bush) a song thrush yesterday evening after the rain. Really distinctive song.

 

Heard a Lesser spotted woodpecker for the first time around us. Couldn’t see him but could hear his different drumming to the Greater spotted variety.
Definitely had me curious first time hearing it. Would be great to have a glimpse of the much smaller woodpecker - but I doubt we will be so lucky.

 

Peregrine Falcon image wins bird photo award - BBC News

Seems like the right place to post this.

 

Golden eagles reach record numbers in southern Scotland

• Published
  3 hours ago

By Giancarlo Rinaldi

South Scotland reporter, BBC Scotland news website

A conservation project to move golden eagles to southern Scotland has helped the population reach record numbers.

There are now about 46 birds in the area - the highest figure recorded in the area for centuries.

Eight chicks were brought to the secret location near Moffat this summer to bring numbers to the current level.

When the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project (SOSGEP) began five years ago it was thought that only three breeding pairs remained in the area.

The latest chicks came from the Scottish Highlands, Perthshire, Angus and the Scottish islands

• Read more stories from the south of Scotland
• The highs and lows of southern Scotland's golden eagles

SOSGEP also revealed that two birds - Edward and Iona - have formed a nesting pair which should help boost numbers in future.

The announcement comes ahead of Moffat's annual festival celebrating golden eagles.

BBC Springwatch's Iolo Williams, who will speak at the event, said: "The work of this outstanding project is playing a vital role in boosting the small golden eagle population in the south of the country.

"It is brilliant to think that there is an even greater chance of seeing this iconic predator, which is so important to maintaining a healthy ecosystem, soaring in southern skies."

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IMAGE SOURCE,JOHN WRIGHT/SOSGEP
Image caption,
Birds have been brought from other parts of Scotland to the hills near Moffat

 

The golden eagle was always my favourite bird as a kid … it’s feather pattern, colour, grace, power and size … it had everything.