ah makes sense! thank you, I'm not particularly knowledgeable with the birds (or anything else
)No bird expert myself I think buzzards are mainly carrion but they do certainly hunt too I have witnessed them taking leverets and heard of them taking lapwing chick's.
I'd be surprised if its short as quite a lush area but there have been so work taking place nearby, maybe displacing the food source?
Indeed, including kestrels!
I think it prefers something easier. Buzzards are more likely to feed on carrion.
Ive twice seen them take adult wood pigeon, same tactic each time buzzard stays low to the ground and flys fast at a flock feeding on the ground, in each case the pigeon was devoured from beak to toes. They take a lot of pheasant poults too, especially when their chicks are on the wing and learning to hunt.I think it prefers something easier. Buzzards are more likely to feed on carrion.
Prey up to 500g is taken by active predation; anything heavier is usually carrion or seriously enfeebled individuals.
Gamebirds are sometimes taken, though these make up only a tiny proportion of the diet.
The feeding grounds are often shared with other birds, though hunting perches are defended. Buzzards use three main hunting techniques. They locate prey from a perch and then fly directly to it. They may also soar over open terrain, occasionally hanging in the wind before dropping on to the prey and following up the attack on the ground. Alternatively they may be seen walking or standing on the ground looking for invertebrates.
I'm currently rehabilitating a Barn owl that had a run in with a Buzzard. The Owl ended up with a torn wing from the Buzzards talons. The wound has healed nicely but several of the primary feathers have fallen out rendering it unable to fly until they re grow.
The kestrel was shadowing the buzzard from what I could see as it was flying above it
Were either of them calling?
I couldn't hear any calling as far as I could remember. They seemed to be having quite a harmonious flight almost leisurely
Really interesting, & well done, our resident Barn owls have stopped nesting since the Buzzards arrived. What a wonderful & graceful bird. Heres hoping it makes a full recovery. I watched Barn owls nesting, the male would bring back a rodent every 10 minutes or thereabouts, Over the coarse of a night thats, thats a lot of vermin. We always used to have 3 resident pairs on the farm. it looks like a male? We call Buzzards Misery Hawks now, they don't seem to bring a lot of cheer, & they seem to be active almost onto night time.
Yes, It is a male
