Raptors over Caithness - what are they?

[richardj]

I managed to snap off a few pictures of what I assume are raptors flying over the Loch Watten area. They do look like large seagulls however they are significantly larger and this morning seagulls were making a lot of noise trying to chase them away. The pictures below are the best I have managed to take this morning, I may get better ones in the future. Initially I thought they may be Osprey's however I am not sure what they are. Yesterday I watched 4 of them flying around, circling, they did not show that much interest in the Loch, they appeared to be more interested in farmland.

[susie]

I don't think they are raptors. The head, beak and wing shape look similar to black back gulls, but it's difficult to tell from a photo and from underneath. Gulls don't like black backs. We get them, especially at lambing time. They are mean and nasty and I have seen a ewe give birth and before she got up a male blac k ba k was down and away with her lamb. I've also seen one attack a fox that was eating a rabbit. Black backs can get a wingspan of about 6 feet. They also take ducklings, young moorhens, oystercatcher chicks and teewits to name but a few. If you find out any thing different that doesn't come up on the Org, please let us know as it's interesting. Cheerio.

[richardj]

Susie, thanks. I did not realise that gulls could could be so large. I had a look and the guide on wiki does look like it is a Black Back Gull - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_b...nd_Ireland.jpg

[Stargazer]

Great pictures. The picture showing the left wing curving down has grey top feathers leading to a black wingtip. This looks like a Lesser Black Back gull.

[wavy davy]

Saw a couple of these on the Wick river several weeks ago. It was the wingspan that caught my eye, then noticed that they didn't behave in quite the same way as the smaller gulls, more like raptors as the OP said. Interesting.

[towie33]

There are various raptors in the area Hen Harrier moors at the back of Halkirk or out Forsinard direction Ospreys Loch Calder area also seen them at Melvich on the Halladale River. This year we have even seen a long eared owl in the area.