Buzzards

[Thamestwitch]

I frequently see them and I assume such a large bird would need to eat a fair bit.

But I never see them hunting or eating, they only time I ever see them is soaring up high, sitting on fence posts or being harassed by crows, so when, where and what do they eat?

[h14nha]

Hi
I have occasionally startled Buzzards off their prey when out walking which inlcuded Rabbits and Pigions in my experience. When I've seen them on the ground in field eating, I leave them alone to finish so theres nothing left at the end to ID. I have also frequently watched them pulling worms from the ground in fields which seems to be a regular habit for them.
Regards
Ian

[Andrew R]

They batter the rats on the farmland around where i live, particularly during the winter when hay bales have been left. Two or three birds can be seen together. They perch up very close to the stacks and make short dashes when they see movement. Both farmers and keepers have noticed the impact they have on rat control so consequently they are left alone and numbers have increased from no breeding pairs 10 years ago to 5 at least in just one area i watch

[IDIC]

Hi Thamestwitch

I am very lucky to have at least 3 pairs of Buzzards around my “patch” and have watched them over many years. I get up to 8 in a kettle this time of year soaring over my house. Wonderful!

They will eat most things that are dead and can be seen sat on fence posts watching the ground for insects, worms or small mammals. It is said that they will sit motionless like this for up to 3 hours waiting for a tasty morsel to show up! The best time to see them do this is early mornings after a night of rain.

They will take bigger live prey if pushed and birds and bunnies are their main target when this happens (which is why other birds mob them).

[lynwill53]

Hi thamestwitch, I hope you don't mind me using your thread to ask a Buzzard question.

Are Buzzards seen in N E Hampshire, (Surrey/Sussex borders)? Last night I saw a very large bird circling on thermals at Liss, Hants. Its tail was fanned, but I could not see (no binocs) noticeable "fingers" on its very broad wings.

My bird book says they are not this far S E, but I don't know what else it could be.

[ChrisKten]

Hi thamestwitch, I hope you don't mind me using your thread to ask a Buzzard question.

Are Buzzards seen in N E Hampshire, (Surrey/Sussex borders)? Last night I saw a very large bird circling on thermals at Liss, Hants. Its tail was fanned, but I could not see (no binocs) noticeable "fingers" on its very broad wings.

My bird book says they are not this far S E, but I don't know what else it could be.

My geography is rubbish, so my post might be irrelevant, but they are as far east as London.

I posted an ID query yesterday to confirm.

EDIT: have a look here (http://www.birdguides.com/species/species.asp?sp=030181) to see where the latest sightings were.

[Amarillo]

My bird book says they are not this far S E, but I don't know what else it could be.

any bird book is way out of date on buzzard distribution. They have now spread virtually everywhere in the country so yes the one you saw was probably a buzzard.

[Farnboro John]

NE Hampshire is now loaded with Buzzards, I live in the centre of Farnborough and on any fine day I can typically see 3 or 4 from my back garden. Within my ten mile radius patch there are places I can count 20 on a single scan round the horizon.

What I haven't yet managed is a garden Red Kite but my neighbours have had one or two so its only a matter of time. I do see them regularly within a few miles of home.

John

[paulwfromtheden]

Hi thamestwitch, I hope you don't mind me using your thread to ask a Buzzard question.

Are Buzzards seen in N E Hampshire, (Surrey/Sussex borders)? Last night I saw a very large bird circling on thermals at Liss, Hants. Its tail was fanned, but I could not see (no binocs) noticeable "fingers" on its very broad wings.

My bird book says they are not this far S E, but I don't know what else it could be.

I bird at Beddington Sewage Farm in South London and on occassions we have recorded up to 23 sightings in a day (though some could have been the same bird of course).
Buzzards are doing really well in the SE, so I'm sure you saw a Buzzard.

[Thamestwitch]

Update to my original post:

Some people seem to be of the opinion that they eat mostly roadkill. Another guy was of the opinion that they eat mostly earthworms!

But I was at a BBQ last night and a guy told me that a friend of his who is a nearby farmer sees them taking live rabbits all the time, so now I know....well at least for my local buzzards anyway.

[Farnboro John]

Buzzards are opportunist predators and highly adaptable. Individual birds will have prey preferences but will also move from one source to another seasonally and depending on day-to-day factors such as weather. In damp conditions one might be worming on bare ground whereas on a fine evening it will be pretending to be the top of a fence post right over a rabbit hole. Not only do roads provide scavenging opportunities but a rodent/rabbit/reptile moving on tarmac shows up pretty well!

John