Buzzard in distress ? (1 Viewer)

Neil Grubb

Well-known member

• Aug 15, 2004

• #1

Can anyone help out with this query about buzzard behaviour ?
I often see buzzards soaring on warm days in Roslin Glen, and usually there are between two and four birds in the air at a time. Yesterday I was aware of a buzzard calling during the afternoon, and it struck me that I'd never heard one so vocal before. However, I am quite new to bird-watching and thought nothing more.

Today during my walk through the glen, I heard the buzzard calling again. It called continuously all afternoon, for at least six hours, with calls coming roughly every 15-20 seconds. I saw only one bird, which spent much of its time perched in trees, but intermittently taking off, soaring round for about a minute, then settling. I couldn't see a nest and didn't want to get too close in any case, for fear of disturbing it. I took some photos, attached, which aren't very good quality but it strikes me the plumage looks slightly tatty. I saw only one buzzard all afternoon, which is unusual.

I got to thinking, has it lost a mate ? Is it sick ? Or is this normal buzzard behaviour ?

Any comments or observations would be welcome!

 

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helenol

Well-known member

• Aug 15, 2004

• #2

I have buzzards close to where I live, and sometimes they never shut up! On occasion they are very vocal indeed. I'm sure the more knowledgeable will correct me, but it looks to me like an adult in moult?

Today I saw a Red Kite, how he managed to fly with so many feathers missing was beyond me, but he did.

 

B

Bluetail

Senior Moment

• Aug 15, 2004

• #3

Absolutely right, Helen: it's a very moulty adult.

 

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helenol

Well-known member

• Aug 15, 2004

• #4

Phew, thank God for that

 

Neil Grubb

Well-known member

• Aug 15, 2004

• #5

Good, I'm relieved it's just moult! For interest, I thought I'd attach my favourite buzzard pic. It's much more in focus, the bird's not in moult(!) and it very obligingly placed itself next to the Moon for this shot!!

 

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Duck Lady

New member

• Oct 3, 2004

• #6

Neil Grubb said:

Good, I'm relieved it's just moult! For interest, I thought I'd attach my favourite buzzard pic. It's much more in focus, the bird's not in moult(!) and it very obligingly placed itself next to the Moon for this shot!!

Click to expand...

Nice Bun Buns too. I have a black and white Dutch too!

 

H

helenol

Well-known member

• Oct 3, 2004

• #7

The two regular buzzards have reappeared over the house this past couple of days. Nice to see them the back again. One of them is still looking a little tatty.

 

nirofo

Well-known member

• Oct 3, 2004

• #8

Hi Neil Grubb

This is the time of the year when Buzzards re-affirm or set up new territories, young birds try to woo a mate and old mates pair bond, they can be very vocal during this time! Several birds can be involved in these aerial displays, I've seen as many as 5 all tumbling about and talon grappling. Eventually the 'spare' birds will disperse leaving only the resident pair in the territory.

nirofo.

 

H

helenol

Well-known member

• Oct 4, 2004

• #9

nirofo - quick question:

I had a couple of buzzards nesting relatively close by, they were seen every day, hunting etc - even landing in the garden on one occasion - I suspect to take one of "my" many bank voles. About a month ago they weren't seen as much, but lately they have reappeared. Good fun to watch them occasionally grappling with the red kites. Do you reckon these birds are here to stay, or will they fly on to pastures new?

Thanks
Regards

 

Nina P

Nina

• Oct 4, 2004

• #10

I reckon you may have a resident pairing there Helen, our buzzies were very upset with the electricians this year as they were refurbishing the national grid network over the back so scafolding and noise caused them a poor years nesting but now they've gone the buzzies are about resiting their territory, most have sorted themselves out but occassionally a loner arrives and then the noise is constant until the loner has gone. I think that could be the reason for lengthy bouts of noise, but the displays are rather wonderful to watch.

 

nirofo

Well-known member

• Oct 4, 2004

• #11

Hi Helenol

I guess there's a good possibility you may have a resident pair, once they have set up a successfull nesting site they don't usually move too far away. However, if the hunting is poor in the Winter time then they may move to more productive areas until the food supply picks up in the Spring.

nirofo.

 

A

Ant83

Member

• Nov 1, 2004

• #12

Hi,
I went to a falconry in early septemser this year and a Buzzard could be heard calling from the nearby wood whilst 2 were circling above, the falconer said (whilst displaying a Buzzard coincidently!) the one calling was a newly fledged bird trying to get a free feed, the adults were trying to tempt it to feed itself. Maybe this is what was occuring?

Antony

 

Neil Grubb

Well-known member

• Nov 1, 2004

• #13

nirofo said:

Hi Neil Grubb

This is the time of the year when Buzzards re-affirm or set up new territories, young birds try to woo a mate and old mates pair bond, they can be very vocal during this time! Several birds can be involved in these aerial displays, I've seen as many as 5 all tumbling about and talon grappling. Eventually the 'spare' birds will disperse leaving only the resident pair in the territory.

nirofo.

Click to expand...

Hi, thanks for the reply. I thought the thread had died out until I looked today; Duck Lady complimented me on my rabbit and that seemed to get the thread going again! Buzzards are still kicking about, occasionally being escorted off by angry crows, but much less vocal now.