Did you know that registration to Fighter Control is completely free and brings you lots of added features? Find out more....

Buzzard ops

A place to chat and discuss everything and anything thats NOT Military Aviation related. No Civilian Aviation content please. We would be grateful for such inclusions on our sister site - Civilian Aviation.
LANCER
Posts: 255
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 5:03 pm

Re: Buzzard ops

Post by LANCER » Mon Mar 07, 2016 7:58 pm

Female Hen harrier are comparable in size and colour, but having looked on the map there has been a juvenile Pallid Harrier about the area!!
Image
:unsure:

davem
Posts: 1084
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 8:48 am

Re: Buzzard ops

Post by davem » Tue Mar 22, 2016 2:20 pm

WAAAHHH!!!!

That's the juvenile PALLID HARRIER that has been ranging widely in the Norfolk area this winter.

Note the very obvious pale collar (called the Boa by some) and although not easily comparable the very dainty build of this bird, especially in flight.

Never hooked up with one in the UK so am totally envious of your encounter and pic!

ATB,
Dave.

mirage41
Posts: 1209
Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2011 5:54 pm
Location: Kings Lynn

Re: Buzzard ops

Post by mirage41 » Thu Mar 24, 2016 9:02 pm

I normally see at least one each day, but today at 13.00 I watched 4 Buzzards circling happily over some conifers between East Walton and West Acre.

A bunch of Rooks were desperate to discourage them, but to no real effect.

mirage41
Posts: 1209
Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2011 5:54 pm
Location: Kings Lynn

Re: Buzzard ops

Post by mirage41 » Sat Mar 26, 2016 10:59 pm

Shortly after 17.00 today between Great Ringstead and Hunstanton I noted a raptor about 1 metre above a hare in the field to my right.

The hare was dodging around to its left, right, forward and back, and the raptor was keeping up with all movements.

Regardless of the high level of speeding traffic on this B road, I pulled over and stepped out for a look, targets still visible in my wing mirror - hare certainly bigger than the raptor.

Nevertheless, in the few seconds it took me to cross the road all had disappeared. All I can say is that the raptor showed a flash of white to its underwing.

Can only presume that, as I stood within the 3 metre "set aside" perimeter of the field that the hare was being despatched close by.

mirage41
Posts: 1209
Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2011 5:54 pm
Location: Kings Lynn

Re: Buzzard ops

Post by mirage41 » Thu Apr 28, 2016 9:48 pm

08.30 this morning, F15 giving us some GH at FL200 plus so stepped out into garden.

Two Buzzard circling, not above 500 feet, so had to watch them in perfect clear blue skies.

Can see F15 any day, having said that, see Buzzard most days.

jem60
Posts: 3620
Joined: Tue Jul 27, 2010 6:54 pm
Location: Chedburgh, Suffolk

Re: Buzzard ops

Post by jem60 » Fri Apr 29, 2016 8:25 am

Buzzards are not having a good time of it here. I have a rookery near me, and they obviously have young now [you can tell by the morning noise11111] Any Buzzard that comes near gets chased off in very short order, and very persistently!!.

mirage41
Posts: 1209
Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2011 5:54 pm
Location: Kings Lynn

Re: Buzzard ops

Post by mirage41 » Mon Jun 06, 2016 8:54 pm

Now that I am fully aware of their prominence, I continue to see more than one Buzzard circling around every day.

As early June is their hatching time, I expect to see an increase in activity as they have young to feed.

User avatar
C24
Posts: 3190
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 2009 10:52 am
Location: In the 51st State of the Union

Re: Buzzard ops

Post by C24 » Tue Jun 07, 2016 5:11 am

There has been a Buzzard & a pair of Red Kites seen on several occasions along the northern shore of Rutland Water in recent days.
"Our" Great manboobs! are about to leave one of the boxes in our garden.
C24.
493d/48th - Grim Reapers Supporter.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/charlie-two-four/ FuzzyFastjetFotos, incorporating "HazyHelos"
There's no "go-round" in a glider.

mirage41
Posts: 1209
Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2011 5:54 pm
Location: Kings Lynn

Re: Buzzard ops

Post by mirage41 » Mon Jun 13, 2016 8:48 pm

This afternoon, at Gt. Massingham central pond, spotted the regular Cormorant stretching its wings whilst its lunch settled.

Then, as it turned to face me, I noted that whilst it did have the typical yellow lower beak the whole of its lower neck and chest were white.

Was this in fact a Juvenile Shag ?

davem
Posts: 1084
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 8:48 am

Re: Buzzard ops

Post by davem » Thu Jun 16, 2016 10:23 pm

Any pics?

mirage41
Posts: 1209
Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2011 5:54 pm
Location: Kings Lynn

Re: Buzzard ops

Post by mirage41 » Thu Jul 07, 2016 6:45 pm

This evening, 18.30, standing at kitchen sink washing up with back door open.

Different squeak from garden, looked up and watched the male Sparrowhawk dispatching a female Sparrow some 4 metres away on lawn. He lifted and went off, with the snack, in direction of nearby conifers.

From that moment, the air was totally free of any bird movement and/or birdsong - including the dozen or more Pigeons that entertain themselves on adjacent roofing.

It was 30 minutes before the first Pigeon returned, and a further 25 minutes before I had sight or sound of any of the miriad of small birds that frequent our estate.

I imagine that the wildlife know that the small Sparrow may not be enough to pacify the Sparrowhawks wife, and it would be best to keep their heads down.

jem60
Posts: 3620
Joined: Tue Jul 27, 2010 6:54 pm
Location: Chedburgh, Suffolk

Re: Buzzard ops

Post by jem60 » Thu Jul 07, 2016 9:24 pm

Lost two Blackbirds to kestrels this week already. Don't have much idea how often this happens, because I only see them when I am in the Conservatory.

mirage41
Posts: 1209
Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2011 5:54 pm
Location: Kings Lynn

Re: Buzzard ops

Post by mirage41 » Tue Aug 02, 2016 9:17 pm

Mid afternoon, Coningsby Buzzard flying gently in 07 direction just north of runway and only 10 feet agl rather than the normal 50 ft. plus, not at all bothered by the 11 Sqdn Typhoons taking off to his right - perhaps they didn't know he was there either, as a normal take off with no extra lift ensued.

Buzzard subsequently took position on runway unit 3 distance marker, and seemed to be working directly with the grass cutting tractor, as he looked for a spot of late lunch.

Jackal21 flight, Marham 2 ship Tornado overshoot, and Typhoon55 performance take off were also of no concern to our friend who we have seen regularly at the base - and his mates at every other base it should be noted.

mirage41
Posts: 1209
Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2011 5:54 pm
Location: Kings Lynn

Re: Buzzard ops

Post by mirage41 » Fri Mar 30, 2018 7:37 am

Ventured north through bomber county earlier this week, picking up members at Boston and Grimsby, as we headed across the bridge to Hull.

During the day we spotted as many as 11 Buzzard (in ones and twos), here and there.

I believe we can safely say that the Buzzard population is well on the way to full recovery.

LANCER
Posts: 255
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 5:03 pm

Re: Buzzard ops

Post by LANCER » Fri Mar 30, 2018 9:03 am

The buzzard had been Britain's most numerous raptor for some years now :)

mirage41
Posts: 1209
Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2011 5:54 pm
Location: Kings Lynn

Re: Buzzard ops

Post by mirage41 » Thu Nov 29, 2018 10:16 pm

Just before sunset today, as many as a dozen Red Kite working a field near Harpley (NW Norfolk). Lovely to see.

Post Reply

Return to “General Chat”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 39 guests