PeterK
Well-known member
Hi During a visit to Speke Hall, a National Trust proerty on the outskirts of Liverpool, were fortunate enough to be witness to a pair of Buzzards acting out of character, OR were they?
Speke hall is surrounded on two side by decidious woodland, and by Liverpool Airport and an industrial estate. The woodland is home to many bird species, ie Long Tail Tits Woodpeckers and the runway of the airport ends in the mudflats of the River Mersey which is home to Sea Birds, waders and various species of ducks, all are open to the public via a series of footpaths and gardens. It is an ideal hunting ground for most Raptors.
Our two Buzzards were perching on a perimeter fence, with fields and ditches on each side. They were accompanied by six magpies all of whom just ignored the Buzzards, the buzzards kept flying down onto the fields exploring the ditches and returning to the fence, on the ground they were performing some type of what appeared to be a courting ritual, this we observed from about 20 yards away for some 10 minute, till the pair took off and disappeared into the surrounding woodland.
Sadly niether Dot nor myself could tell if they were male and female, any advice on doing this would be most apprecaited, it was very odd to see two Buzzards in this way and for so long, we assume it was courting rituals, but have insufficient knowledge to be sure. So come on you Raptor experts lets have some help here.
Good Birding PeterK
Speke hall is surrounded on two side by decidious woodland, and by Liverpool Airport and an industrial estate. The woodland is home to many bird species, ie Long Tail Tits Woodpeckers and the runway of the airport ends in the mudflats of the River Mersey which is home to Sea Birds, waders and various species of ducks, all are open to the public via a series of footpaths and gardens. It is an ideal hunting ground for most Raptors.
Our two Buzzards were perching on a perimeter fence, with fields and ditches on each side. They were accompanied by six magpies all of whom just ignored the Buzzards, the buzzards kept flying down onto the fields exploring the ditches and returning to the fence, on the ground they were performing some type of what appeared to be a courting ritual, this we observed from about 20 yards away for some 10 minute, till the pair took off and disappeared into the surrounding woodland.
Sadly niether Dot nor myself could tell if they were male and female, any advice on doing this would be most apprecaited, it was very odd to see two Buzzards in this way and for so long, we assume it was courting rituals, but have insufficient knowledge to be sure. So come on you Raptor experts lets have some help here.
Good Birding PeterK
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