Sparrowhawk?

[@imagesBV]

This fine specimen visited our fence in the rain this afternoon....
I shot this while on the phone to a client, one-handed including changing lens to 600mm

_Z9A6915 by brianvickers, on Flickr

_Z9A6919 by brianvickers, on Flickr

_Z9A6923 by brianvickers, on Flickr

[Silvertouran]

I think it’s a buzzard

[Trev B]

It’s a Buzzard Brian

[Iron Man]

Nice to see Brian, thanks for sharing

[Bill53]

Nice capture Brian.

[antoeknee]

Shape, colouring and face markings together with hint of barring on the breast looks more like sparrowhawk to me.

[Trev B]

Shape, colouring and face markings together with hint of barring on the breast looks more like sparrowhawk to me.

Ant when I first looked at it I though juvenile Goshawk, then discounted it. I was a bit sceptical about Buzzard but there’s something about it that don’t look Sparrowhawk.

[@imagesBV]

There are lots of buzzards in this area, but they look a bit more stocky in build when I’ve seen them sitting on a post, this appeared more slender…Shame it didn’t turn around.

[@imagesBV]

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/734368282958074618/?d=t&mt=login

[antoeknee]

Ant when I first looked at it I though juvenile Goshawk, then discounted it. I was a bit sceptical about Buzzard but there’s something about it that don’t look Sparrowhawk.

Suspect it's a juv hence the slightly strange markings. Certainly doesn't look 'stocky' enough for Buzzard. Face marking look wrong for Buzzard too.

[colin C]

I'm not convince it is a Buzzard.

If you look at the hint of breast feathers, they are light and dark bars, so that should discount the Buzzard. Of the more common UK raptors, that leaves the Goshawk and the Sparrowhawk. The barring on the Sparrowhawk is generally towards the brown and white and the barring on the Goshawk is generally towards the dark brown/black and white. Juvenile plumage is generally a little more confusing.

Not as stocky as a Buzzard, or as slim as a Sparrowhawk, coupled with the dark horizontal barring, I am tempted towards Trev's initial thoughts of a juvenile Goshawk.

[Trev B]

Suspect it's a juv hence the slightly strange markings. Certainly doesn't look 'stocky' enough for Buzzard. Face marking look wrong for Buzzard too.

Possible, just something don't look right about it - not the photograph, the bird

[Trev B]

Up-date. - Showed this picture this morning to someone who is very much up on his bird identification especially birds of prey. Without hesitation he said Juvenile Goshawk
He was interested to know the area Brian lives or saw it at. He said there are only about three strongholds in the country where you are likely to see Goshawk's
Where was it Brian ?????

[tigerburnie]

The tails too long for a Buzzard, hard to tell the size of it, but I have handled a few Goshawks owned by falconers and that is a funny colour to ones I have seen, but bird colour can vary massively in raptors, I'd say Sparrow Hawk if pushed.

[Trev B]

I’m out. Must admit there’s pointers to all three species.