Buzzard ops

[mirage41]

Completed re-entry to Norfolk County this afternoon, with one eye and the digicam on the A17 ahead.

Spare eye locked on to local buzzard circling in casual manner, not above 500 feet. Suddenly said bird went onto a 75/80 degree dive.

Didn't see any undercarriage deployed as went below the corn line, but presume that the next few milli-seconds would have been of particular interest to whichever bird/animal was in the process of being dispatched.

[mirage41]

Buzzard numbers must be increasing.

Every day, either morning or evening I see one (normally two) Buzzard circling to my north - below Castle Rising - or to my south - near QE hospital.

Every airfield I visit, and many open fields on route, have two or more regularly looking for lunch - and they are not at all bothered by the aircraft movements.

[LANCER]

Common Buzzard's are now the most numerous bird of prey in the UK.

[The Phantom]

Their numbers have increased greatly over the last 20 years

[mirage41]

Is that more numerous, LANCER, than Kestrels ?

[tazmin88]

Depends which part of the UK you are in . in England kestrels are more common than buzzards and in mid wales and Scotland you very rarely see a kestrel but there are buzzards everywhere . Over the last ten years I have noticed a gradual increase in buzzard population in East Anglia and there are often several pairs to be seen at RAF Marham soaring over the woods both to the east and north of the airfield. The reduction in the use of pesticides has had a beneficial result on the prey animals which in turn has aided the birds of prey . There are an increasing number of red kite sightings too and I have seen several marsh harriers at marham also.

[normie]

Lots of Red Kites in Yorkshire now

[LANCER]

I'd probably go to far as say they are more common in England too.
With many now scavenging in towns and cities, aswell as patroling our
highways for road kill !

[jem60]

Live just south of Bury St. Edmunds. We have a regular buzzard pair now, although they were not in this particular bit of this delightful area until a year ago. Had a kestrel in my garden twice last week [didn't get the Goldfinches], and have seen a couple of red kites recently, first time for me in this locale.

[mirage41]

Few years ago, when spring/autumn watch was at Pensthorpe, I bumped into Kay Tumble. They were filming Red Kites, just down the road from here at West Newton.

[jem60]

Daughter or Granddaughter of Test Pilot Gordon Humble if my memory serves me correctly

[tazmin88]

That'll be Kate then

[LANCER]

Live just south of Bury St. Edmunds. We have a regular buzzard pair now, although they were not in this particular bit of this delightful area until a year ago. Had a kestrel in my garden twice last week [didn't get the Goldfinches], and have seen a couple of red kites recently, first time for me in this locale.

You probably find that the kestrels chasing the goldfinches are more likely to be sparrowhawks

[baz1]

often see upto 5 buzzards circling above my land as they are resident at Lincoln cathedral

[LANCER]

The birds resident at Lincoln cathedral are
Peregrine falcons. Buzzards 'prefer' tree nests,
out in the country

[LANCER]

An unfortunate Buzzard ......

[jem60]

Hi, Lancer. Yep, have the Sparrowhawks as well. Very nearly got hit by one that was chasing a Blackbird . Came over my hedge and missed me by a foot!!!.

[mirage41]

Leaving Swaffham today at 14.37, had to pull over to watch 2 Buzzard niggling away at each other above A47. What is this all about, normally they would work as a pair.

[LANCER]

Buzzard's tend to scavenge as much as they can. So not really any need to work together as perhaps eagles may do.
Having said that I saw 10 once together riding a thermal as vultures would !!

[tazmin88]

bit like kites then photo taken at Gigrin Farm Rhayader Powys there`s at least one buzzard in with the kites