LSherratt

iTrader: (1)

No seriously, I did.









Found it in the fox trap this morning and I think it is a buzzard? Although can anyone identify it please? I see a lot of these soaring high in the skies around my area and have always wondered what type of bird it is. Absolutely amazing to see a wild one this close. I wouldn't want to put my hand in that's for sure as she seemed quite vicious and looked like she was standing her guard. Released her safely....

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Looks like a European Brown Eagle although i'm no expert, there's loads of them out here in Croatia, they're a decent sized bird with a wing span approaching a metre, that one has very similar colouring to the ones I see but it's difficult to get an idea of the size from your pic.

Pleased you were able to release it safely, magnificent creatures.

gazney101

iTrader: (5)

That's incredible, what a bird....

dpb

Looks like a Buzzard, from what I can see on t'internet.


Could you train it to hunt fox!?

bigredrob

Looks like a Buzzard to me....

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

I wish our national sporting emblem was a Peregrine falcon (or indeed a Buzzard!) - cool as **** and relevant to the UK! - rather than a lion or 3 lions... Like, they're 'native'!

Okay, I know the lion thing goes back hundreds of years via heraldry and all that (actually they were originally 3 leopards), but c'mon....

dpb

Ha, I have to somehow justify the three lions bit to Zim girlfriend

Impossible!

Matteeboy

Definitely a buzzard - can I borrow it to scare the **** out of all the seagulls here?!

Paben

iTrader: (5)

That's a very pissed off buzzard I reckon. It would have loved to have given you a bit of a peck!

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

It's embarrassing, quite frankly.

Rescue Dude

iTrader: (11)

Last year while I was travelling to a rally in Waleshire early one morning a Red Kite flew out in front of the car.
There was nothing I could do and I hit it. The damn thing was huge easy six foot wingspan. It broke my grill and put a small dent in the front of my bonnet.

Very sad. (for the bird not my car)

ossett2k2

iTrader: (9)

Lovely bird,looks to be a common buzzard. Glad it was safely released

LSherratt

iTrader: (1)

Cheers everyone, now I finally know what they are! Wish I took some better pictures now.

LSherratt

iTrader: (1)

I wish I could!


Yeah it did seem angry with me. That first picture it looks like it's standing it's guard ready to pounce on whatever came near it. It really seemed to be giving me the evil eye look. It was so cool to be right up close and to see it moving and flapping about. The wings were huged when outstretched compared to the size of its body. Still big though!

JTaylor

Cool! Glad she got away alright.

wrx300scooby

Magnificent!!!
Which part of the world do you live? I'm seeing a lot of red kites of late nearby to where I live

LSherratt

iTrader: (1)

Outskirts of Gloucester area, South

I often see Buzzards soaring high over the countryside here!

wrx300scooby

Cheers, a bit too far south for me to see them then

Carnut

100% a buzzard, I used to fly one when I was a yound lad before moving my way up through list of the more elite hawks/falcons/eagles.

If you was to get one to scare the seagulls off the buzzard would have its **** handed to it. They would mob the buzzard and in the process make a lot of noise.

Just a little tip for you matt, if you know where Caerhay's beach is you can some times watch Peregrines flying around, the young are quite vocal and may be a bit late in the year. We used to go and have our dinner on the beach if I could get out of work, look out for other birds mobbing a singular bird.

dpb

Wouldn't that apply to just about any bird prey then.?

Carnut

Yes

dpb

I think it was peregrine they had nesting top block flats in Brighton

Still same number ****ehawks around.

Spoon

I have 2 flying over my garden daily. Their nest is visible in the wooded area next to me. Quite often one sits in trees at the top of my garden.

When only one is flying around I also often witness the 2 crows that nest in the wooded area too, attack it. The Buzzard never puts up a fight and gets a good barging mid-air. The same crows are fed daily by myself.

The unmistakeable noise a Buzzard makes is a favourite of mine outdoors.

Glad it was released unharmed.

LSherratt

iTrader: (1)

I often see a couple of crows ganging up on a Buzzard too, funny that. The Buzzard simply carries on flying while the crows swoop around it and give it a bit of a push. I'm sure if it really wanting to it could take out both of the crows?

jazzyjembreaze

iTrader: (11)

Common buzzard , fly & feed in pairs once chicks have hatched
Loads around at mo , that bird is quite young
As in young adult , under 5 I'd say

urban

iTrader: (1)

I presume you drove back and fourth over it a few times in bad temper?

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Loads round here, they breed in the wood at the bottom of the field, see them in groups at this time of year.

We also have Red kite, and short-toed eagle, aka "snake eagle". I want them to breed...fast.....

I hate snakes.......

Rescue Dude

iTrader: (11)

I didn't stop. No point. I spent the drive there looking at the little ding and the big splash of blood over the front of my bonnet.

An0n0m0us

That noise of the buzzard is what is used in films where you are supposed to be hearing vultures circling overhead. Vultures don't make any such noises so the buzzard's call was used as it's so distinctive.

The buzzard always looks to be getting a kicking from crows but this is because the crows play clever and the buzzard knows it can't get them all the time the crows are above it. Crows will always stay above the buzzard, if the buzzard tries to go up to get them the crows just increase altitude at the same time. You will never see crows go below the buzzard, if they do they better be heading in a stoop straight for cover or they know they will be buzzard food.

The crows are actually doing no harm to the buzzard at all, they are trying to drive the buzzard out of their territory as it's mainly a carrion eater and a danger to their young or anything they may want to be scavenging. They look to be hitting the buzzard on the back but never get close enough because the buzzard could flip and grab them so it's all just harassment as opposed to a physical attack.

The buzzard is an incredibly lazy bird hence it's bu66er all use in falconry unless you like standing in a field all day watching it sitting in a tree or on top of a telegraph pole. When you see them soaring they are 99% of the time looking for dead stuff, they won't expend energy chasing rabbits if it can find left overs from fox catches. They will also eat worms, frogs, small mammals such as mice and voles and large insects. Occasionally they take game birds but again it's got to be an easy catch for them to bother. They really aren't the predator they look like they are and no such great threat to gamekeepers who will always try to tell you the buzzard is a mass killer.

I love the common buzzard (despite it's laziness), I have a lot where I live and see them daily and they will regularly fly low over me whilst i'm out walking my dogs.

quattroowner

iTrader: (5)

Beautiful animals, Quite common up here in Aberdeen shire as well

there used to be a rare "Freak" of a albino buzzard that used to always sit at the top of the telegraph pole in one of the field's. Such a shame she never found a mate ( due to her white feather's was a bit of a turn off for the lads ) haven't seen it this year. no-one believed me until i got a photo of it . It's on one of my old phones all try dig it out.

Glad that one got out safely and good on you for making sure it got out safely as well