Buzzard nest and droppings? - NE Scotland (1 Viewer)

[curlewsandpiper1980]

In a large mixed woodland where I regularly go, I found 3 large nests (at different sites) and near them I found droppings.

Are any of these a buzzard nest?

Nest 1 (first two photos) is a nest low in a deciduous tree. There was a pair of buzzards displaying nearby, so I suspected it could be its nest. I Ididnt find any evidence under but there were different droppings within some distance (one of which a long whitish spray) (next two photos).

Nest 2 was halfway in a very tall single larch tree, and plenty whitish droppings under (two photos of the droppings attached). Another pair of buzzards was flying in its vicinity.

Nest 3 was again on a larch (halfway to the top) and looked messy. No bird spotted and no droppings but at some distance I found a few droppings (last two photos)

Any ID for all of these is much appreciated.
Thanks,

 

[Deb Burhinus]

Nest 1 (first two photos) is a nest low in a deciduous tree. There was a pair of buzzards displaying nearby

Nest 2 was halfway in a very tall single larch tree, and plenty whitish droppings under (two photos of the droppings attached). Another pair of buzzards was flying in its vicinity.

Can I please strongly recommend you don’t seek out and venture near raptor nesting sites this time of year - Raptors, especially at the beginning of the breeding season are extremely vulnerable to disturbance from walkers/birdwatchers etc. It’s also quite hard if you are not experienced enough to distinguish between ‘displaying’ Buzzards and a pair that have been disturbed in their nesting site - either way, it sounds and looks from the images as if you may have been too close.

(posting images of birds nests run the risk of them being removed by the Mods if they deem them inappropriate)

 

[curlewsandpiper1980]

Thanks Deb,

I will refrain from posting potencial nests pictures. And I will delete these photos.

I was and I am mindful not to disturb any raptors. I walk often in forests and these are paths that are well marked and frequented by walkers. If I see raptors and, say buzzards calling, I quickly retreat away.

 

[Deb Burhinus]

I don’t know what all these scats are,

#3 looks like Pine Martin to me (but not sure)?
#4 could be a raptor?
# fox perhaps?
# 10 looks like Woodpigeon?

 

[curlewsandpiper1980]

Deb, you can correct me if I am wrong, buzzards tend to fly mostly above their territory, (which ia probably centered around their nest). I therefore pay attention and watch out for birds flying above and try not to head into that direction when walking on the woods, as that might be where their nest might be. Especially so now in spring and early summer.

Usually this doesn't happen (coming too close), but occasionally I happen to walk unintentionally too close to a nest (usually buzzards, which promptly give their call, but last summer it happened with a pair of sparrowhawks which probably nested (or tried to) just two minutes away from my house and I discovered this accidentally as I was walking in the woods surrounding the house and a pair called out as they were obviously disturbed. I was surprised to see they tried nesting in a site where dozen of people walk every day, including their dogs) and right next to several houses. The following days I could hear the sparrowhawks from my windowsill. The woods are larger but the birds choose to stay near the houses, maybe because of all the prey abundance, despite human presence.

The region here is very rich in buzzards, so I encounter buzzards flying above woods very often (usually from a distance and seen with binoculars). Obviously I avoid crossing path with the birds, and yet occasionally I also happen to see nests when walking on the woods, which I believe belongs to them. What else what build large nests? This was the main reason for me to post this, as I was curious to know.

Thanks for your feedback anyways,

 

[Deb Burhinus]

The woods are larger but the birds choose to stay near the houses, maybe because of all the prey abundance, despite human presence.

or perhaps because of human presence - Sparrowhawk adapt very well to urban/populated environments where as you say there is an abundance of prey which is largely due to garden bird feeding.

. What else what build large nests?

Crows, Goshawks, Squirrels all build big nests in this sort of environment.