Went for a walk a couple of weeks ago and had seen plenty of Buzzards that day. One caught my eye - it was in the sky still and my bins picked up something dangling from its legs - it was quite big and appeared to be almost the body size of the Buzzard - lucky bird had just caught a rabbit it appeared.
I noticed it very still in the air. Either move out of the area or drop with it on to the field below. In the air it could catch the attention of other birds. Then I realised that nt very far from it were hundreds of LBB Gulls probaby hawking insects in the air. I felt sorry for the Buzzard frozen in the air with what could be a heavy meal with hundreds of strong hungry birds.
Eventually the Buzzard moved away from the area and closer to a second group of LBB Gulls - within seconds they had spotted the Buzzard and over 10 of them yelped and flew at the Buzzard trying to make it drop. Why eat small insects when an already dead rabbit could fill you up better?
The Buzzard held on and the Gulls attacked - surprisingly the Gulls did not attack as viciously as they could have done. They could have easily been more aggressive and made the Buzzard drop the rabbit. They flew at the Buzzard and yelped. I must say i admired how that Buzzard held on and probably covered half a mile easily with that heavy burden. Im guessing the Gulls were not that hungry that day. i did think the Buzzard would drop and i did watch just in case any of the other Buzzards, Goshawks, Ravens, Crows, Peregrines within the area might decide to have a go. Luckily the Buzzard most probably made it back to its chicks i guess - thats the only reason I guess the Buzzard would take ti so far.
i wonder how many of you have witnessed Raptors robbed by Skuas, Gulls, large Corvids....
I noticed it very still in the air. Either move out of the area or drop with it on to the field below. In the air it could catch the attention of other birds. Then I realised that nt very far from it were hundreds of LBB Gulls probaby hawking insects in the air. I felt sorry for the Buzzard frozen in the air with what could be a heavy meal with hundreds of strong hungry birds.
Eventually the Buzzard moved away from the area and closer to a second group of LBB Gulls - within seconds they had spotted the Buzzard and over 10 of them yelped and flew at the Buzzard trying to make it drop. Why eat small insects when an already dead rabbit could fill you up better?
The Buzzard held on and the Gulls attacked - surprisingly the Gulls did not attack as viciously as they could have done. They could have easily been more aggressive and made the Buzzard drop the rabbit. They flew at the Buzzard and yelped. I must say i admired how that Buzzard held on and probably covered half a mile easily with that heavy burden. Im guessing the Gulls were not that hungry that day. i did think the Buzzard would drop and i did watch just in case any of the other Buzzards, Goshawks, Ravens, Crows, Peregrines within the area might decide to have a go. Luckily the Buzzard most probably made it back to its chicks i guess - thats the only reason I guess the Buzzard would take ti so far.
i wonder how many of you have witnessed Raptors robbed by Skuas, Gulls, large Corvids....