Bird ID

[Punkywull]

Spean Bridge

Can anyone identify this silhouette. The bird was soaring high in circles near Spean Bridge. Looks like a wader, but flew like a bird of prey.

[Mal Grey]

Probably a heron with its neck tucked back up, as they tend to do. They're big and do occasionally glide/soar a bit like a bird of prey.

[Punkywull]

Cheers Mal

Certainly big wings like a heron. Just never seen a heron circle higher and higher for a good 15 minutes. To be honest, never even seen one soar.

[Mal Grey]

Cheers Mal

Certainly big wings like a heron. Just never seen a heron circle higher and higher for a good 15 minutes. To be honest, never even seen one soar.

Don't think I've seen one do it for more than a couple of minutes myself either. But have seen them circling. Perhaps it was just gaining height in order to travel a bit further?

A couple of months ago I was surprised to see two curlews flying like raptors, circling higher and higher. I'm only used to them flying straight and low. Couldn't work out what they were until I got the binos and focussed on the unmistakable curved bill.

[crfishwick]

DSCN2511 (3).jpg

Can anyone identify this silhouette. The bird was soaring high in circles near Spean Bridge. Looks like a wader, but flew like a bird of prey.

Grey Heron without a doubt. A wader? Certainly.