Following on from the “Baz” item below, Jenny H (in Dublin) and a Mr. T (no, not that one I don’t think) have taken the time to e-mail me to ask about my Buzzards….Well, they’re not actually “my” Buzzards, but I have studied them for a long time and have even given them all names (for ease of identification). Buzzards are all different in their plumage, personality and behaviour traits and I’ve grown to know this bunch of feathered reprobates pretty well.

“Brynn” (above) is everything a Buzzard should be….He soars majestically and effortlessly higher than any other Buzzard in the thermals hundreds of feet above the Cotswold hills. His skin-tingling atmospheric call seems louder and more ethereal than any other Buzzard and he’s a very accomplished hunter, whether from the air or from his favourite fence post. He can be very aggressive towards any Carrion Crow, Rook or Raven stupid enough to molest him and he’s highly practised at rolling on to his back in mid-air to show his talons to his aggressors….I’ve occasionally seen black feathers spiralling to earth after such encounters! Generally though, he’s pretty much left well alone by most sensible Corvids.

Brynn the Magnificent,  riding the thermals on a warm, cloudless Springtime morning, soaring perhaps a thousand feet above the Cotswold Hills. Brynn has his own distinctive markings, but note the dark trailing edge to his wing feathers….immature birds do not have this diagnostic feature.

Unlike Baz, Brynn rarely stoops to scavenging from road kills, but most amusing is how, around mid afternoon (sometimes with his mate “Brittle”, a very temperamental and twitchy bird), he can usually be found on the ground in some freshly planted or fallow field doing his best impersonation of Coco the Clown while hunting for insects and invertebrates. The MO is quite simple, but comical to watch….they stand very still (for however long it takes) then suddenly dash, skipitty-hop fashion (sometimes with wings outstretched) for a few metres and pounce! If they miss, they’ll scrabble and scratch around frantically in the dirt hunting for their victim, emitting a plaintive cry if they fail to find it. Brynn seems to love earthworms and grass-hoppers the most, but is always ecstatic to stumble across the occasional lizard. Interestingly, his affection towards Brittle is obvious and quite touching when he sometimes presents her with some favoured delicacy or other. It’s always a very gentle and private moment between the two birds, but then he’s off again, all pleased with himself, skipitty-hop, across the field to resume the hunt for more tasty snacks.

I have dozens of Buzzard photos (including shots of most members of the study group) and, as there appears to be at least some degree of interest, I shall feature a few more of these special individuals as time goes on.