Can you help identify these birds

[snodland]

Just upgraded from the Lumix DMC-FZ 5 (yeah they did make them about 7 years ago) to the DMC-FZ 200. It will take ages to get used to it and so I apologise for the grainy photos. I would welcome any help in identifying or confirming identification of the birds in these photos.

First 3 were actually taken on Loch Long, a Sea Loch near Dornie. I think the red headed one is a widgeon but can't be sure.

The bird if prey series of photos was above the Carr Brae road again near Dornie. The bird was about 400 metres away. By the tail shape I thought it was a buzzard but instead of soaring in a circle it was more often hovering above one spot like a kestrel (it was though too big to be a kestrel). I have seen an eagle over the Carr Brae 3 years ago but wasn't sure that this was big enough.

Actually on Loch Long

[jmarkb]

Second and third photos look like a Little Grebe http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/l/littlegrebe/index.aspx , sometimes called a Dabchick: good spot! I think the bird of prey is a buzzard: they do hover sometimes, but unlike kestrels they need a headwind to be able to do it. First one is hard to tell: possibly curlew from the long beak?

[gmr82]

Yep i agree with jmarkb. Definitely a little grebe, and again the best guess would be a buzzard for the latter. I always find the hovering buzzard sightings intriguing as the official line is that only kestrels can hover, but there are many many sightings of hovering buzzards so I'm not entirely sure why the kestrel-only still persists........

PS to jmarkb. Blackford Pond has a healthy population of little grebes nowadays. Whereas when I first spotted them 3(ish) years back they were outrageously difficult to catch on camera, now they seem far more at ease and there has been the added bonus of numerous chicks the past couple of years too

[CharlesT]

One for the expert birders here, but it's just possible the buzzard is a vagrant Rough-Legged Buzzard. They are slightly larger than a common buzzard, have longer tails and are skilful hoverers. They also show a distinct kink at the carpal joints, which appears to show up in one of the pics. Too indistinct for a wholly positive id, but worth a thought.

[jmarkb]

Blackford Pond has a healthy population of little grebes nowadays. Whereas when I first spotted them 3(ish) years back they were outrageously difficult to catch on camera, now they seem far more at ease and there has been the added bonus of numerous chicks the past couple of years too

Thanks for that: I'll keep an eye out next time I'm passing!

[BoyVertiginous]

Hen Harrier (female)?

[CharlesT]

Hen Harrier (female)?

Good call, but if it was buzzard size, then it would be a bit too large and the tail doesn't look quite right for a Hen Harrier for me. However, probably a better call than mine, but not aware of Hen Harriers hovering except Barn Owl like near the ground over prey.

[andyfitz]

The first photo looks like a greenshank.
The raptor, I would suggest is 99% sure to be a buzzard. If a rough legged buzzard then it is quite lost. One of the photos does give it a kind of Osprey look but looks like a buzzard.
Also - little grebes are cool.

[David-Main]

1st photo - Bar-Tailed Godwit
2nd " - Little Grebe
3rd " - Buzzard

[ALANREIDHILLS]

1st photo - Bar-Tailed Godwit
2nd " - Little Grebe
3rd " - Buzzard

You have my votes David, though I'm uncertain about the godwit.

[snodland]

Thanks everyone. At the RSPB Quiz night at Hillhead Sports Club in Glasgow I did solicit some further ....supposedly expert opinion. They all thought the first one was a Greenshank (too pale for a Bar Tailed Godwit they thought) and agreed with the Little Grebe and the Buzzard.
On the other hand what do they know as my team won the First Prize in the quiz (hic!)
Cheers to everybody who has posted though.

[David-Main]

A Greenshank has no black tip to the bill, a Bar-Tailed godwit has, as is the one in your pic can be seen , also a Bar-tailed is a lot lighter in winter plumage.