The Buzzard Family

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For some time now I have been watching the Red Kites and Buzzards in this area and seeing them thrilled me because at one stage, the Red Kite was an endangered species in England. A few survived in Wales and it was from that stock that a few Red Kites were reintroduced into England ten years ago.

The project has been an incredible success and they are such an exquisitely beautiful bird.

It has been some time now, in fact since near mid-July, that I last saw a kite on my walks. In fact I’d last seen a buzzard in June. So I was delighted this evening (about 45 minutes ago) to see a buzzard sitting on a fence post along the path to the Ridgeway proper.

I tried to get close to him but at about 60 yards away he turned his head, saw me, took flight and flew toward a delipidated barn on the other side of an adjoining field. He settled in the field and then the big surpise occured. From behind me I heard the screeching of a an eagle. It was not an eagle. It was a fwemale buzzard flying home to her nest in the trees alongside the delipidated barn. It means then that saw Mr Buzzard waiting for her to return maybe with some dinner. She screeched her head off for a few minutes after settling in a tree.

But my camera had no go-go juice………!!

Buzzard
Buteo buteo
AKA: Common buzzard

The commonest UK bird of prey, it is quite large with broad, rounded wings, and a short neck and tail. When gliding and soaring it will often hold its wings in a shallow ‘V’. It is variable in colour from all dark brown to birds with pale heads and breasts, all have dark wingtips and an unbanded tail.

Where does it live?
Breeding
Likes trees and hilly crags for nesting with open farmland and moorland nearby to feed over.
Where to see it
Greatest numbers in Scotland, Wales, the Lake District and SW England. Found on farmland with wooded hills, moorland and in more arable areas to the east where it is spreading. Look for birds soaring over wooded hillsides in fine weather, or perched on fence posts and pylons.
What does it eat?
Small mammals, birds and carrion.
What does it sound like?
A loud ‘mewing’ call - ‘pee-uuu’
When to see it
All year round. Birds soar, display and call most in spring.

Red Kite
Milvus milvus
This magnificently graceful bird of prey is unmistakable with its reddish-brown body, angled wings and deeply forked tail. It was saved from national extinction by one of the world’s longest running protection programmes, and has now been successfully re-introduced to England and Scotland. It is an Amber List species because of its historical decline.

Where does it live?
Breeding
Likes deciduous woodland with farmland and grassland nearby.
Wintering
Similar to breeding habitats but winter communal roosts are often established in woods.
Where to see it

At one time confined to Wales, a reintroduction scheme has brought them back to many parts of England and Scotland. Central Wales, central England - especially the Chilterns, and the Black Isle, Scotland are the best areas to find them.
What does it eat?
Carrion, worms and small mammals.
What does it sound like?
Mewing and whistling calls
When to see it
All year round.