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Message: <blockquote data-quote="optiman" data-source="post: 1819897" data-attributes="member: 83186">Buzzards spottedHello earleybird,I spotted three Buzzards.. (i have to say from the outset: i'd no camera or binos! Never did i envisage what was to be seen).. from Bicester  (Oxfordshire) to Pembrokeshire on the A40 route when i visited a friend of mine who lives in the Bicester outskirts - a beautiful village i must add. We were coming back home via the Cotswolds...what beauty!! I thought rural Ireland was stunning and it is really - but this countryside takes beating! Low and behold, my friend driving said to me: "look up the road ahead, is that a Buzzard or Red kite chewing on a dead hare or something.." To our astonishment, the rapture batted it's wings as we came closer and closer, then all of a sudden gained a laboured flight just as our van came right upon it. The bird was NOT a bit nervous...(as we thought..) and just came within 3/4 feet from hitting out window screen with a swift diversion  he flew over the van roof flew beyond the  hedgerows and that was that.That was not all - we were going through the Welsh valleys, again, this time i noticed two buzzard like raptures..much heavier set and darker plumage colourings than their 'cousins'...Red kites. A journey i'll never forget, even though i'd no bloody camera! Really SORRY i'v no pic's. I hope these stunning birds of prey thrive. We have Red kites here in Co.Wicklow, Ireland. The farmers are our enemy now. The farmers are putting out poisonous meat baits and injecting sheep carcasses with poison. The younger birds especially are too susceptible and naive to this barbaric torture. I bet the UK the RSPB or conservationists in general would never tolerate this attitude/behaviour? Nick</blockquote>

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