Bird identification

[Samm]

I was taking a dander up Meelmore on Saturday and heard a twittering from behind the wall.  Peered over to see two snow buntings hopping about the place.  Our bird team in work (I have an odd job!) were very excited and said that it needed to be submitted as a record for the current survey work that's being done for an updated bird atlas for the UK.  It reasonably odd to see anything other than ravens flying about the place in the Mournes.  While there's official survey work being done, they are also interested in once off records of uncommon stuff too.  So, if you see any birds, beyond the commonly seen raven, that you can identify when you're up in the mountains can you submit the record please - http://btoweb01.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/birdatlas/taking-part

Thanks.

[LennyJ1]

Now I know I just did this but I wonder how many people have searched for Snow Bunting to see what they look like? 

[Samm]

Well when I saw them on Saturday I didn't know what they were either! So I had to search when I got home that evening! So you can add me to the list of those that have searched!!

[Matthew]

Now I know I just did this but I wonder how many people have searched for Snow Bunting to see what they look like? 

Ill put my hand up to that one

Matthew

[MG1]

Me to.

[Samm]

Snow bunting!

[Drongo]

This was one I was feeding in Scotland a few years ago...

[LandyLiam]

this little fella followed me on Meelmore on at least 2 occasions, anyone know what it is or is it too distant?

[Drongo]

Any clue on size, flight style (what it was doing with it's wings to keep in the air), colour...?

Photo is a bit distant really but it looks like some sort of raptor cause of the distance and shape of the head from the wings, but the tail looks to short from this angle...

Buzzard maybe if it was biggish and brown...  They have a weird squeaky/squealy call they usually make in flight and have been known to follow people to scavenge on possible dropped food...

[Scribble]

this little fella followed me on Meelmore on at least 2 occasions, anyone know what it is or is it too distant?

You sure it's just not a bit of sandwich stuck to your lens  

All I have ever seen have been the ravens and I keep looking for  the peregrine falcon but no joy but I did see my first red kite up close in castlewellan forest park last week

[LandyLiam]

Any clue on size, flight style (what it was doing with it's wings to keep in the air), colour...?

no, no, no and no , it was months ago 

You sure it's just not a bit of sandwich stuck to your lens

possibly 

[whoRya]

Snow bunting you say

[Samm]

this little fella followed me on Meelmore on at least 2 occasions, anyone know what it is or is it too distant?

I showed it to our ornithologists here and best guess is Red Kite.  They don't think the tail shape is right for buzzard, although the wings look a little too broad for red kite, but that can depend on the angle the photo was taken at.  Personally I'd say, a bird, definitely a bird!

[Samm]

Actually a change of mind, now back to potentially being a buzzard!  I'm still sticking with 'bird'!

[LandyLiam]

and there was me thinking it was a microlite 

i'll just have to pop up to meelmore again and get a better pic