Eagle owl spotted?

I think I might have seen the Eagle owl today. Time about 8.50am. It was at the extreme range of field glasses. First seen in our neighbour's Ash tree.

It looked too big for a buzzard and was not brown on the back but a dark salt and pepper colour. Never got a good view of the face and too distant to make out any ear tufts. It flopped from the tree onto the pasture with huge wings.

It investigated something in the grass and then flew with a couple of wing beats back to a lower perch. But was very upright. Finally fell off the branch and flew low towards Cox Bank.

Without the previous comments I would have wondered what I had seen. I am sure it was not a buzzard. Rosie is less convinced.

The literature states that they hunt over a square 10km area. Also they attack and drive off other birds of prey who feed on similar prey. Has anyone noticed a reduction of Buzzards and Ravens?

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