Any twitchers on the forum

[Jimmy]

Don't know much about bird watching, but.
I have been seeing some large soaring birds around Preston of late, usually 2.
I wonder what they are, usually way up.
To my untrained eye I would say "eagles" but suspect not.
Not Seagulls or magpies etc.
Any ideas ?
Thanks
Jimmy

[veggiechicken]

Buzzard maybe? often see them here.

[Jimmy]

Buzzards , could be they look nice enough!
Jimmy

[burnie]

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wi...s-hawks-eagles
There was one Eagle in England in the Lake District, not sure if it's still there, most likely a Buzzard, or possibly a Red Kite, their numbers are growing.

[Scarlet]

I get buzzards over my garden ....their call is very distinctive.... a bit like a mewing cat
https://www.british-birdsongs.uk/common-buzzard/
Red kites were very rare up until the last few years...over the last two years maybe, we have seen a huge increase in them. Their wing shape is obvious when you know what to look for.

If you look at the population on this map

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wi...-a-z/red-kite/

They possibly are “rare “ for your area but numbers have been on the increase so I wouldn’t discount them. Beautiful birds.

[Greenleaves]

We get lots of red kites on the Hampshire/Berkshire border, lovely graceful birds when riding the thermals.

On Sunday we had a number of yellow wagtails on the plots....dont recall seeing them before

[Bren In Pots]

We get buzzards usually its a group of 5 we don't get red kites though.

[SelkirkAlex]

guessing of course but most likely buzzards or "tourist eagles" as they are called up here, listen for the distinctive call or watch out for agitated, aggressive crows.

[Jimmy]

I shall try and identify them a bit better.
Jimmy

[Mitzi]

I agree most likely buzzards or red kites. The most distinctive thing about red kites is their tail, it is curved inwards - kind of like a swallow's but not as extreme. They are large birds but soar seemingly effortlessly. You hardly ever see them flap their wings, they just ride the thermals as much as they can. There are loads of red kites around north Leeds, I think they were reintroduced from the Harewood estate. They might have drifted westwards as the population increased.

Buzzards appear "chunkier", their tails are more rounded. They are increasingly common these days; I often see them here (West Yorkshire.)