Short-toed eagle

This large, pale eagle is unusual in its family in that its diet consists mainly of reptiles, mostly snakes, although it will take small mammals and birds on occasion. That ties it to warmer regions around the Mediterranean in Europe, but large parts of France have always been a stronghold, hence the second part of the scientific name, Circaetus gallicus. It often hovers, as well as soaring, but although it could be confused with a Buzzard at distance, good views reveal it to be considerably larger and longer-winged. There have been a few British records, but the best time and place to see this raptor is probably at a Mediterranean migration bottleneck in autumn, as they head for Africa.