(buteo lagopus)
The Rough-legged Buzzard breeds in the upland tundra of northern Europe. It is a short distance migrant wintering mainly in southern Fenno-Scandinavia and north-central Europe. In Scotland it is quite an uncommon visitor. It most often will appear as an autumn passage migrant along east coast and northern isles locations though occasionally a bird will over winter.
The bird photographed here was present for several weeks in the hills above the Mennock Pass in Dumfries & Galloway affording clear but distant views. This is probably a first winter bird of an unusually pale morph. Photos were taken about 1 km away from the bird !