[brianfm]

I was quite suprised to learn from Bird Watching Mag that the Common Buzzard may now be the most abundant raptor in he UK possibly having overtaken the Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. It is said to be expanding Eastwards and re-colonising areas not used for more than a hundred years.
From my own experience I have noticed many more Sparrowhawks in recent years and wonder where I could get my hands on the latest estimates of Raptor numbers in the UK?

Brian

[desgreene]

Hi Brian,
try this from BTO web-site

http://www.bto.org/research/advice/raptors/index.htm

Regards, Des.

[PaulAshton]

Having been born and bred in the west midlands I have watched the Buzzards moving east over the last 10 years.

In 1990 I would have been gob smacked to see a Buzzard in the WMs. Slowly they started appearing, my first sightings being over motorways and other major roads.

At the present time I can't avoid Buzzards as they are now firmly established in the WMs in any bit of countryside you care to visit.

[bubobubo]

some guys (and places) have all the luck. I must be looking in the wrong places.!! though on the day i lost my poor cockatiel, two buzzards were flying over in the field next to my house. I have never seen them here before and it was the only time i saw them. What a display they gave though. I wouldn't dare even trying to guess whether they were common or honey as at the moment i just can't tell the difference when they are in flight. sorry!! (i am better in idying owls though if that is any consolation hehehehe)
bubobubo

[brianfm]

Originally Posted by desgreene

Hi Brian,
try this from BTO web-site

http://www.bto.org/research/advice/raptors/index.htm

Regards, Des.

Hi Des
Thanks for the web site details
Brian

[Rhion]

Originally Posted by desgreene

Hi Brian,
try this from BTO web-site

http://www.bto.org/research/advice/raptors/index.htm

Regards, Des.

This report suggests that Sparrowhawks are still considerably more numerous than Buzzards. True the figures are for 2001 but I don't think things have changed that dramatically since then.

Buzzards are very obvious birds - big, fond of soaring and noisy. Sparrowhawks are a lot less obvious. I probably see at least 10 Buzzards for every Sparrowhawk round here, but I'm not sure that there are actually more of them

[salty]

my little scotish expedition on tuesday produced tons of buzzard - even though it was wet and windy for most of the day. only saw the one sparrow hawk - but they are so stealthy, you cant really see them most of the time, you just notice the clumps of feathers from there kills dotted around!

[chris3871]

Originally Posted by brianfm

I was quite suprised to learn from Bird Watching Mag that the Common Buzzard may now be the most abundant raptor in he UK possibly having overtaken the Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. It is said to be expanding Eastwards and re-colonising areas not used for more than a hundred years.
From my own experience I have noticed many more Sparrowhawks in recent years and wonder where I could get my hands on the latest estimates of Raptor numbers in the UK?

Brian

Hi Brian. Saw a Buzzard just this evening- I do certainly seem to see a lot more of them nowadays. Also saw a Red Kite early yesterday morning. Had any luck recently?

[brianfm]

Originally Posted by chris3871

Hi Brian. Saw a Buzzard just this evening- I do certainly seem to see a lot more of them nowadays. Also saw a Red Kite early yesterday morning. Had any luck recently?

Hi Chris
I must learn to control my envy of your bird sightings.
I am hoping to have another excursion over the Tyne soon to see if I can spot any Red Kites and I will keep you informed.
I have had a number of visits from the local Sparrowhawk which seems to find my garden visitors an easy meal!! I do like Raptors though but was suprised to find that Buzzards are thought to be doing so well.
Brian

[helenol]

Hi Brian - I also have a pair of resident buzzards (at least I take it they're resident, they are always around).

The number of breeding pairs regarding red kites is now 201 in the Chilterns and surrounding area. They reared over 380 chicks.

[brianfm]

'The number of breeding pairs regarding red kites is now 201 in the Chilterns and surrounding area. They reared over 380 chicks.'
__________________
Helen

Wow! They are doing really well Helen. Certainly hope they get a firm foothold up here in the Derwent valley. I have hopes that they will expand into Northumberland. It's really good to see these re-introductions doing well and that all is not doom and gloom on the bird front.
Regards Brian

[salty]

Certainly hope they get a firm foothold up here in the Derwent valley. I have hopes that they will expand into Northumberland. It's really good to see these re-introductions doing well and that all is not doom and gloom on the bird front.
Regards Brian[/quote]
me too bri! 25 birds this year- including 100 over next 4 i believe. they are no doubt going to spread out over gateshead/newcastle and beyond once they start breeding etc. i only live opposite side of the team valley, but have to still go to derwent to get a sighting. maybe next year they will be soaring over my house? hope so.

[Nightranger]

Originally Posted by brianfm

I was quite suprised to learn from Bird Watching Mag that the Common Buzzard may now be the most abundant raptor in he UK possibly having overtaken the Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. It is said to be expanding Eastwards and re-colonising areas not used for more than a hundred years.
From my own experience I have noticed many more Sparrowhawks in recent years and wonder where I could get my hands on the latest estimates of Raptor numbers in the UK?

Brian

I am not sure I agree with this because it would have required at least a five fold increase in buzzards since 1996 to achieve that. True enough, kestrels and sparrowhawks seem to be in a slight decline at the moment but it is less than 1% in the latter and only a few percent in the former. Buzzards are still increasing because the rabbit population is in an immunity phase from myxomatosis at the moment (meaning the buzzard increase is probably cyclic too). However, buzzards have relatively large territories during the breeding season and there is likely to be a finite amount to the population growth especially given that rabbits are not evenly distributed. The BTO reports a range increase and this probably adds some measure of a false effect because they are large birds with a large range.
http://www.bto.org/birdtrends/wcrbuzza.htm

Ian

[saluki]

Originally Posted by Ian Peters

Buzzards are still increasing because the rabbit population is in an immunity phase from myxomatosis at the moment (meaning the buzzard increase is probably cyclic too).Ian

Hi Ian,

Can you explain what an 'immunity phase' is please? IMHO myxy works it's way slowly from patch to patch, devastating populations in it's path. There isn't a time when all the UK is clear of myxy and a time when all the rabbits are immune to it. Myxy spreads into a patch, the rabbits all but die out, any left produce young that are then immune - this lasts for 3 or 4 generations. This process can be altered by landowners bringing in myxied rabbits, or dog men bringing in stock that is immune. Since the rabbit flea is the major insect vector in the transmission of the disease in the UK, myxy doesn't tend to make huge leaps from one area to another, entirely seperate one - unless man interferes.

saluki

[Nightranger]

Originally Posted by saluki

Hi Ian,

Can you explain what an 'immunity phase' is please? IMHO myxy works it's way slowly from patch to patch, devastating populations in it's path. There isn't a time when all the UK is clear of myxy and a time when all the rabbits are immune to it. Myxy spreads into a patch, the rabbits all but die out, any left produce young that are then immune - this lasts for 3 or 4 generations. This process can be altered by landowners bringing in myxied rabbits, or dog men bringing in stock that is immune. Since the rabbit flea is the major insect vector in the transmission of the disease in the UK, myxy doesn't tend to make huge leaps from one area to another, entirely seperate one - unless man interferes.

saluki

Hi Saluki,

Myxy does mutate although what you have said equally holds true for some areas. Here in Bedfordshire, the rabbit population is healthy enough but there are myxy cases. I am not sure what the degree of immunity is but there clearly is some element although you are absolutely correct with the additional points you make. It is likely that the population has never reached anything like zero despite myxy being present whereas on Anglesey rabbits are extremely rare (absent in some areas that had significant populations). Again, it is unlikely that rabbits were reintroduced or made the journey across two very busy bridges (especially to reach north Anglesey) yet the animals are present. this would surely infer they are survivors of a critically low population. I will check this a little further because it is an interesting subject although I don't want to get too far off the topic of the the thread anyway.

Ian

[brianfm]

Originally Posted by Ian Peters

I am not sure I agree with this because it would have required at least a five fold increase in buzzards since 1996 to achieve that. True enough, kestrels and sparrowhawks seem to be in a slight decline at the moment but it is less than 1% in the latter and only a few percent in the former. Buzzards are still increasing because the rabbit population is in an immunity phase from myxomatosis at the moment (meaning the buzzard increase is probably cyclic too). However, buzzards have relatively large territories during the breeding season and there is likely to be a finite amount to the population growth especially given that rabbits are not evenly distributed. The BTO reports a range increase and this probably adds some measure of a false effect because they are large birds with a large range.
http://www.bto.org/birdtrends/wcrbuzza.htm

Ian

Hi Ian

Thank you for that explanation. I must say again that I was suprised at the suggestion. It is a pity that the mag did not go into a bit more detail as so often statements like this can be rather misleading. Although to be fair it only suggested that Buzzard numbers 'may' be overtaking Kes and Sphawk.
I am equally suprised that Sparrowhawk numbers are thought to be slightly down as I have never seen so many until recently. Could it be that they are being attracted into more urban areas and therefore seen more often? I must get these BTO reports read!

Brian

[Nightranger]

Originally Posted by brianfm

I am equally suprised that Sparrowhawk numbers are thought to be slightly down as I have never seen so many until recently. Could it be that they are being attracted into more urban areas and therefore seen more often? I must get these BTO reports read!

Brian

Hi Brian,

Absolutely, there seems to be a trend developing that suggests woodlands are not too healthy in the UK at the moment and it is not down to just habitat loss. Generally speaking, woodland birds are either havfing a poor time of things or are moving more and more into urban habitats. Sparrowhawks have returned to world very differnet from the one they left here in the UK and lthough they still breed in woodlands, they are hunting elsewhere. The problems in woodland habitats area complete mystery and that is what is so worrying but many woodland species are showing a decline profile. Why have you not heard more about it? Simply that no one is sure what the true profile is.

Ian

[helenol]

Originally Posted by Ian Peters

Hi Brian,

Absolutely, there seems to be a trend developing that suggests woodlands are not too healthy in the UK at the moment and it is not down to just habitat loss. Generally speaking, woodland birds are either havfing a poor time of things or are moving more and more into urban habitats.
Ian

Not in my neck of the woods Ian! Can't move for birds here