Taken on 23/03/2019
Originally we thought this was a steppe buzzard but we consulted an expert (Jack Ashton-Booth) "Your recent thoughts are correct, I would agree that this is an adult long-legged buzzard. P9 looks nice and long in relation to p5. P4 is extensively barred with diffuse smoky hues and barred scarring running throughout the neighbouring outer primaries. The underside of the tail is weakly barred (almost absent of barring apart form the terminal band) , I would expect vulpinus to show at least some more regular barring albeit subtle in a dark morph adult Also the length of the arm and the lack of the relative breadth/bowing trailing edge expected in the equivalent age vulpinus is pro LLB. Thanks for sharing a perched pic also – the length of the tail and corresponding undertail coverts giving the perched bird a real stretched feel, as if the birds back end is bottom heavy - pulling the head and neck back & upright. a nice gape line also suggestive of a good solid skull."
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