What bird WAS this?

[Dos_Box]

I've just got back from an hour or so of watching the trains go by at Preston station this afternoon with my son, which, when you are 4 is a terrific way of spending your time.

One thing I did see which was out of the ordinary was this bird which had met it's end on a Virgin Trains Pendolino bound for Glasgow. I'm pretty sure it's a Buzzard, but please feel free too correct me. It was fairly jammed under the wiper blade too!!!

 

 

Edited November 14, 2010 by Dos_Box

[AngryTechnician]

I think you're spot on, Common Buzzard (buteo buteo). Poor bugger.

[rad]

Its dead whatever it is.... but how did it get under the wiper?

[SteveT]

Nah, Buzzards have pale, even white, beaks while this looks more like a common or garden kestrel with yellow beak ............. beautiful birds never-the-less!!!

[tech_guy]

Poor little blighter. At least it was hopefully an instant death.

[mattx]

Nothing to do with the OP but I've been taking photos of birds outside my window this weekend:

[ Note: I was shooting from inside through the window with NO polarizing filter hence the 'dodgy' quality ]

 

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/5174266117_79288e4ce2_z.jpg

 

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/5174867458_662ff91afa_z.jpg

 

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/5171684824_2c5abd25e5_z.jpg

 

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4151/5174808140_d8647f65e9_z.jpg

Edited November 14, 2010 by mattx

[webman]

Nothing to do with the OP but I've been taking photos of birds outside my window this weekend

 

Careful mattx, you can get arrested for doing things like that.

[mattx]

Careful mattx, you can get arrested for doing things like that.

 

Sok, the wife says it was ok. But only if I didn't touch.

[webman]

What a wonderful wife you have. Any other woman and they'd be watching you like a hawk.

 

[great photos by the way]

[mattx]

What a wonderful wife you have. Any other woman and they'd be watching you like a hawk.

 

[great photos by the way]

 

Lordy - don't start on the puns......

[webman]

Why not? Only trying to get you 'owling with laughter.

[Gatt]

Why not? Only trying to get you 'owling with laughter.

Cos it makes you look like a Great Tit...

[webman]

Who ruffled your feathers?

[Dos_Box]

Nah, Buzzards have pale, even white, beaks while this looks more like a common or garden kestrel with yellow beak ............. beautiful birds never-the-less!!!

 

I'm very, very knowlegable about birds. Kestrels are small and have chestnut brown uppers. It is definately NOT a kestrel This was quite large (if you have never seen a Pendolino you won't get the sense of scale involved here) I did suspect it was a buzzard from the off, and it it was proberbly hit at about 130mph. I reckon that would do the job of ramming it under the wiper like that.

[GrumbleDook]

Pretty sure it is a common buzzard too (aka the european buzzard) but it may be a migrating rough-legged buzzard from the size.

[elsiegee40]

Another vote for Common Buzzard. I'd expect the head to be paler on a rough-legged buzzard.

[fawkers]

Hi everyone;

 

It's defintly is a common buzzard, poor thing.