The title of this entry is a response to the comments on my previous blog. A sea eagle around Brighton is not going to happen imminently, but I did spot an unusual raptor this afternoon.
I'd just gone out into the garden and I spotted two buzzards overhead. They were sparring on the wing at some distance and at a great height. I checked carefully to make sure they weren't red kites (they weren't), but one of the pair was interesting in its own way.
Leucism is a condition that results in a loss of pigmentation. It's seen in many species, usually (as here) causing partial loss of colouration. Buzzards do, like many birds, vary in colour (though not normally to this extent) and fully white buzzards are very occasionally seen. They tend to cause quite a stir.
Less unusual, yesterday (Friday) I paid a brief visit to a local duck pond… 
There were several geese grazing…
And a moorhen flying by…
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 40D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
13 Comments
I'm more likely to see a vulture heading this way from France than a sea eagle (I live in hope!), but this was quite unusual and at least I'll know it again if it passes this way in the future.
LOL, a sea eagle next week then 😉 but that buzzard is truly beautiful, and a very special thing to see! I've never seen one anywhere near that pale.
I didn`t know they could suffer a loss of pigmentation. I knew about mammals but birds… :left:
Darko, it's not uncommon in birds. You quite often see it where crows or blackbirds have white feathers, like this crow I saw last summer.
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Not often to catch something beautiful as well as unusual. The crow is very interesting too! I've seen them with one white feather, but never that array.
Nice set of flight photos. The white buzzard is a nice find
Erwin, I'm never quite sure about the distinction between albino and leucism, but assumed the latter as there is some wing pigmentation (though that might not be the true definition). Glad I got a photo though 🙂
Lois, that crow was amazing. I saw it a few times last year and it put on quite a display.
Originally posted by Words:
I'm under the impression that an albino can't have any pigmentation anywhere on its body, including its eyes.
Bothe the crow in the comments and the buzzard above have very attractive cases of leucism.
Deb, thanks. That's broadly how I understand it but I think there are some specific differences to do with either a complete absence of pigmentation cells (albinsim), or faulty pigmentation cells (leucism). The term 'partial albinsim' has cropped up as well , though I doubt it has a scientific basis.
Erwin, it was certainly unusual. I see lots of buzzards locally, but never one quite like this.
Wow the white buzzard thats a great Find, can be a ALBINO all the photos are great :up: :up:
It can that It Is a old Bird there you will not find a dark billy ant there are generally pale, but still a nice shot