Help identify this bird of prey?

[Schmeeky]

Afternoon all!

Was at Homebase this afternoon, and on getting out of my car saw a bunch of folk with their phones out, taking pictures of something.

Getting closer, I saw this...



It seemed to be a 'working' bird, as it had leather 'leggings' on, and the local seagulls were going their ends trying to dive bomb it!

Trouble is I'm not sure what it is. My best guess would be a buzzard.

The hive mind of PH must surely know the answer!

[Mobile Chicane]

Harris Hawk would be my guess.

[anonymous-user]

Mobile Chicane said:

Harris Hawk would be my guess.

It certainly looks like it.

[Composer62]

There's a guy comes around our business park every month or so with a very similar bird. They're used in an attempt to keep the seagulls away.

Given the way that the seagulls react they seem to be reasonably successful. It can, however, result in some very messy cars when he's finished !

[227bhp]

What do you do when a bird sts on your car?


You don't take her out again

[Mort7]

Harris hawk.

[Turn7]

Yep, thats a Harris thats ignored it owner....

Be worth checking yuor local FB group or posting even, they may not have a clue where its gone to.

[Boosted LS1]

Harris hawk seizes red car shocker.

[Butter Face]

Saw some of these at a bird show this week, the way they attack prey, stand over it with their wings wide and ruffled and devour it is pretty flippin’ cool.

[Boosted LS1]

Yeh, rabbits love it, lol. Harris hawks hunt in packs on the ground. Usually in the scrub where they ambush prey.

[av185]

Red cars are a tt to touch up.

Think of the talon marks.

[Schmeeky]

Now I'm home I've had a bit google - the Harris Hawk was not a creature I was aware of.

It must be a pretty game bird, the hawk - it was lots smaller than the gulls, but they were obviously stting themselves. Metaphorically and literally!

Glad my car was parked in the corner!

My thanks to the PH hive mind - cheers chaps and chapesses!

[isaldiri]

Really hope the prat that managed to lose the harris gets it back as a harris hawk is one of the most easilly manned birds of prey so losing it takes quite a large amount of stupidity.. A lost falconry bird with jesses on isn't going to find it easy surviving on it's own (plus they are totally non native) so really shouldn't be roaming around anyway.

[Gandahar]

Schmeeky said:

It must be a pretty game bird,

If you want to meet a game bird then give me a call , our local Tesco's has a dogging session the 3rd week of every month.

[Schmeeky]

[netherfield]

Gandahar said:

If you want to meet a game bird then give me a call , our local Tesco's has a dogging session the 3rd week of every month.

Over the freezer cabinets is it?

[Composer62]

Composer62 said:

There's a guy comes around our business park every month or so with a very similar bird. They're used in an attempt to keep the seagulls away.

Given the way that the seagulls react they seem to be reasonably successful. It can, however, result in some very messy cars when he's finished !

It's back again today. Seagulls are going crazy !

Apologies for pic quality.