Buzzards

sharkman

Has anyone else seen the group of Buzzards near St Margarets @ the back of Dublin Airport . I nearly crashed when i saw one sitting on top of a hedge with a rabbit in its tallons .

PH01

sharkman wrote:

Has anyone else seen the group of Buzzards near St Margarets @ the back of Dublin Airport . I nearly crashed when i saw one sitting on top of a hedge with a rabbit in its tallons .

Like this guy?

sharkman

Yep , just like that . I've seen them loads of times now .

boneless

Buzzards are the sucess story of raptors in Ireland. 15 years ago there were less than 20 pairs in the north. Now they are to be found all along the east and into parts of the midlands. There are reports of them being seen and breeding within the city limits. I have seen single birds over UCD and the Phoenix Park.

pmac

I have seen Buzzards on the borders of Carton Estate, Maynooth, Ski Wood beside Lyons Estate, Newcastle, Co. Dublin and yesterday (7/9/05) in Castletown Estate, Celbridge, Co. Kildare.

googs

There are a least 2 buzzards currently in the greenbelt area north of Dublin Airport. There was 3 but not sure what happened the other one, some shooters were taking pot shots at two of them but luckily no casualties !!

If you turn left at the roundabout before the coachmans and go up that road 5/600 yards in they are located around that area. This is the last greenbelt left between Swords and the city centre. They are probably the same ones that were spotted in St Margarets Last year. They have been here for about a year now and I see them nearly on a daily basis.

Also around are kestrels, sparrow hawks, barn owls etc, great place for birds of prey

sharkman

yes , I've seen them there , on quite afew occasions . One sitting on the fence as you come down the slip road from the roundabout on the left . But I believe they are a seperate pod to the St margarets ones as I have seen 4 over keelings Fruit and 3 at the Airport on the same trip ..

googs

brilliant sharkman.. they're wonderful sight, lets hope the fingal planners don't over do
the development around the area!!

boneless

pmac wrote:

I have seen Buzzards on the borders of Carton Estate, Maynooth, Ski Wood beside Lyons Estate, Newcastle, Co. Dublin and yesterday (7/9/05) in Castletown Estate, Celbridge, Co. Kildare.

I'm just back from the back of the Carton estate... seven birds in the air at once!! Wonderful!!

Have you seen any long eared owls in Newcastle? I heard they are to be found around there.

Scotty #

I see these too on a daily basis. I live on Killeek lane near Madigans yard at the back of the airport. If I stand out the back for 10 mins I'll definitely see them, mind you, their about 2 miles up sometimes and then they'll go into a dive and drop 800 feet in about 4 seconds (this is a courtship thing- not for hunting.). I've seen about 6 together which is not unusual they can be in groups of 20 or more.

googs

Just a buzzard update from the hinterland of dublin airport ! saw a least 6 buzzards circling together, what a sight.. there could of been 7 but the sun was
very strong ( high up ), they broke up and were all over the area... then one landed for a few seconds on a beech tree down the end of the garden ( garden is full of rabbits... wish they would take some of them as they are having a great time munching on anything I plant out ! ) actually there is a big rabbit population this year and last around the locality and no signs of miximatosis ( sorry can't spell that word but ya get the general idea ) wonder has this got anything to do with the sudden surge in buzzards around the area...

sharkman

Saw a pair of Buzzards circling on thermals over Blanchardstown @ the weekend .

Funsterdelux

I know of someone who is nursing a female buzzard, wont say where, it was shot in the wing last year she was just a juvenile, so her chances arent great.

williamw

i have seen 3 or 4 buzzards (i think they were buzzards) soaring very high over the boyne river, just upstream of slane castle, several times while kayaking.
can anyone confirm if there are buzzards in this area.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Hi William,

Yes, certainly there are Buzzards in that area. They are becoming plentiful in counties Louth and Meath.

boneless

googs wrote:

Just a buzzard update from the hinterland of dublin airport ! saw a least 6 buzzards circling together, what a sight.. there could of been 7 but the sun was
very strong ( high up ), they broke up and were all over the area... then one landed for a few seconds on a beech tree down the end of the garden ( garden is full of rabbits... wish they would take some of them as they are having a great time munching on anything I plant out ! ) actually there is a big rabbit population this year and last around the locality and no signs of miximatosis ( sorry can't spell that word but ya get the general idea ) wonder has this got anything to do with the sudden surge in buzzards around the area...

Lots of rabbits=lots of buzzards!! One of the reasons there is an upsurge in buzzard population is the banning of poison to kill rabbits and other vermin.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

boneless wrote:

Lots of rabbits=lots of buzzards!! One of the reasons there is an upsurge in buzzard population is the banning of poison to kill rabbits and other vermin.

I have researched Buzzards in the North East for many years now and while Rabbits form part of their diet, they are not as prevalent in the diet of Buzzards as some lead us to believe. Their diet is quite varied and includes frogs, birds, small mammals, as well as rabbits. Carrion is a large portion of their diet and the reason for their decline is closely linked to their taking poison laid on land. Persecution by farmers and game keepers was also a factor.

sharkman

Spotted 7 today , in two groups . Both groups over Keelings Fruit farm @ back of Dublin Airport .

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

It's coming in to breeding season now and pairs are re-bonding. Watch for some fine aerial acrobatics over the coming weeks.

Doc Farrell

I work near the airport and intend to take some time to try to photograph these damn buzzards! :mad: I thought I saw two the other day but they turned out to be ravens....

Recently I went to the Wicklow hills to photograph a kestrel. I spend hours but couldnt see one.
when I got back to the car there was one sitting on a post next to it. i was so excited and annoyed that it flew off before I remembered to take its picture.

I'm hoping to go to a quiz in the Kingston hotel in Dun Laoughaire on tuesday at 8pm for the South Dublin Branch of Birdwatch Ireland. I don't now anyone there but I have a halfdozen desk calendars I want to donate from my old job, bird calendars. I don't really want to throw them out but they've been sitting on the floor for 3 months. so if you want one, just pm me that you're going to the kingston hotel and i'll see you there, i guess.

ciaran76

I have seen 2 buzzards up around St Magarets and also seen I think its a Sparrow Hawk in Airside retail park at the bottom near where the office type buildings are.

Scotty #

Saw 10 at the same time today, two groups of 3 and a group of 4, near Murrphy's Quarry, between Naul and Ballyboughal in nth Co.Dublin

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Yes, they are now a common sight from Antrim to Wicklow and further south.

The Hill Billy

There's been a pair of buzzards hunting regularly in Ardgillan Demesne(between Balbriggan & Skerries) over the past couple of weeks, particularly early morning.

barryfitz

Does anyone know of any around Laois. There are several up in the woods behind our house. Outside Portlaoise.?

sesswhat

They're becoming quite common around East Donegal over the past few years. I've often seen them spending hours catching worms on pasture land.

morke

You were not seeing things. A few have been around for the last couple of years. Just this afternoon there was one circling over near the N2/Dunsoughly Castle area and it was one of the few times in my life i regretted not having a camera.

boneless

barryfitz wrote: »

Does anyone know of any around Laois. There are several up in the woods behind our house. Outside Portlaoise.?

I have seen buzzards on The Heath and at Dunamase Castle. A few years back I sighted what could have been a rough legged buzzard on The Heath but I never was sure enough to report it to BWI officially.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Buzzards are now a common sight down the entire east coast.

trabpc

Saw one this evening outside Monastrevin heading for Rathangan.

was on a pole and took flight and landed on large oak tree.
lovely bird in flight

12bore

There have been a pair around here for about 18 months or so, about 5 miles south of Kilkenny (Bennettsbridge). See them almost every day when I am out on the farm. Come across them eating rats on the top of bales fairly often.

This morning, for the first time, saw 4 of them soaring in the sky. Quite a quiet, still day, very distinctive calling sound. Had the camera with me for once, although they were quite high.

meathstevie

It's nice to see a few proper predators flying around. Magnificent bird. There's a couple of them on a big tillage farm in my area in Meath. I've sat watching them for a good bit over the last few months while trying to keep the crows and pigeons from the fields. As a hunter I wouldn't begrudge them their daily ration of fresh meat. At the end of the day I do exactly the same as they do : take food from nature's basket.

trabpc

any chance of seeing those pic's?

dodgyme

saw a few buzzards today. Suspected I may have saw one before but today I was convinced by the big tail and the circling at different heights and the screeching calls (so piercing)- wonderful.

cotton

We had 2 in the field beside us last year. I hadn't seen them in ages but my partner saw them in the field behind us the other day...with 4 more.

The Hill Billy

I was only thinking last Satuday morning that I hadn't seen any buzzards in my back garden/field in months (they are regular visitors). Lo & behold on Saturday afternoon there was a big un' circling - it appeared to be riding thermals - & calling to another who was (unseen) in the parkland beside my place (possibly a young buzzard being shown the ropes?).

The Hill Billy

No less than 7 buzzards yesterday afternoon over the fields at the back of my house for almost an hour. Amazing to watch & listen.

bogtreader

Two buzzards flying around the druids glen marriott today about 2 o clock great to see them.keeping an eye out for red kite next:)

karlkop

hi to all who posted about buzzards i thought i was the only one who was seeing these wonderful birds over the past 3 years since moving to lusk ,
almost every morning while driving on the m1 i have seen the pair around the coachmans flyover fantastic birds i like all birds but these are specail
lately i have been seeing more and more of them all along the m1 motor way , in lusk i see them soaring high up 6 to 7 at a time with there high pitch call brillant , even better to see them soaring low to get an idea how big they really are was in ardgillan castle and they have a stuffed buzzard in a case from years ago before they dissapeared , great to see them back

barryfitz

boneless wrote: »

I have seen buzzards on The Heath and at Dunamase Castle. A few years back I sighted what could have been a rough legged buzzard on The Heath but I never was sure enough to report it to BWI officially.

They are the ones. I captured a few pics of them at the weekend. See thread here.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055412551

boneless

barryfitz wrote: »

They are the ones. I captured a few pics of them at the weekend. See thread here.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055412551

I just replied to your other post before I saw this one.

mushykeogh

Was just driving home today from blanchardstown to ratoath via kilbride on the back road. I had seen a really big bird of prey around the same area before. Anyway, there today was this very large bird perched on a post, i stopped to get alook and the bird flew off, it had a massive wingspan, maybe a metre? very brown back and wings, almost kestrel like colour, anyway it seems from your posts that its prob a buzzard, il try and get photos. Size wise it was very big, i even thought it might have been a golden eagle!. It looked maybe 20 inches in length bodywise. Havent been into birds since i was a kid but this was very big!

sharkman

Some photos I took today over Swords :

hiwayman

Hi
Saw my first buzzard about 8 years ago and then the odd one once every few years. But the last year or so they have become more common in Co. Cavan (even though some of my friends in the local gun club will shoot them on sight).this summer a pair nested nearby and we've had some great sightings and we still here and see them from time to time.

cuddlycavies

You need to report your ''friends'' in the gun club to your club president for expulsion and to your local Gardai for prosecution and possible loss of licence.

hiwayman

cuddlycavies wrote: »

You need to report your ''friends'' in the gun club to your club president for expulsion and to your local Gardai for prosecution and possible loss of licence.

It's not as simple as that. I'm not involved in the gun club, but my very good friend who is, believes the buzzard is a treat to their pheasants. It's not a position I like to be in, but I'm not prepared to fall out with him.

Anyway, the point is, despite this, the buzzards are doing fine.

Birdnuts

hiwayman wrote: »

It's not as simple as that. I'm not involved in the gun club, but my very good friend who is, believes the buzzard is a treat to their pheasants. It's not a position I like to be in, but I'm not prepared to fall out with him.

Anyway, the point is, despite this, the buzzards are doing fine.

You should help your "friend" to get over his ignorance of what buzzards prey apon by informing him that they represent no threat to his game birds since the only live prey they pick up is small mammals like rabbits and rodents.
Which makes them very much the farmers friend.:)

Fuzzy Clam

hiwayman wrote: »

but my very good friend who is, believes the buzzard is a treat to their pheasants.

Sorry to butt in here, but a threat to their pheasants??

The only threat to the pheasants I can see here is from those wielding guns.

O/T Thankfully the gun clubs have been run out of here. They had difficulty telling the difference between pets and "fair" game

Birdnuts

Fuzzy Clam wrote: »

Sorry to butt in here, but a threat to their pheasants??

The only threat to the pheasants I can see here is from those wielding guns.

O/T Thankfully the gun clubs have been run out of here. They had difficulty telling the difference between pets and "fair" game

I spoke to a professional game keeper who has worked in Britain and Ireland this morning and asked him are Buzzards a threat to game-birds?? - He laughed at me and said they are far too slow to be a threat and in any case prefer to hunt rabbits and the like. He went on to say that they are actually a friend of the game keeper given the number of rats and even mink they take:)

hiwayman

Birdnuts wrote: »

I spoke to a professional game keeper who has worked in Britain and Ireland this morning and asked him are Buzzards a threat to game-birds?? - He laughed at me and said they are far too slow to be a threat and in any case prefer to hunt rabbits and the like. He went on to say that they are actually a friend of the game keeper given the number of rats and even mink they take:)

I understand that, unfortunately one or more gun club member/s claims to have seen a buzzard swoop on a pheasant. I could go down the road of arguing the case for the buzzard and to suggest that the story about the buzzard swooping on the pheasant is nonsense might be calling someone a liar. I'm a blow in from Dublin and some of these people are my friends, but they don't take kindly to being lectured on the ways of the country side from Dubs.
I sure this is not the only gun club where this kind of thinking goes on. I only know this because I'm close to them, normally they,ed never admit this. Perhaps a positive campaign in favor of the buzzard towards the gun clubs from bird watch Ireland might be a good idea?

Birdnuts

hiwayman wrote: »

I understand that, unfortunately one or more gun club member/s claims to have seen a buzzard swoop on a pheasant. I could go down the road of arguing the case for the buzzard and to suggest that the story about the buzzard swooping on the pheasant is nonsense might be calling someone a liar. I'm a blow in from Dublin and some of these people are my friends, but they don't take kindly to being lectured on the ways of the country side from Dubs.
I sure this is not the only gun club where this kind of thinking goes on. I only know this because I'm close to them, normally they,ed never admit this. Perhaps a positive campaign in favor of the buzzard towards the gun clubs from bird watch Ireland might be a good idea?

One of my dogs killed a young pheasent two years after happening apon it during a walk - she had never done it before or since, does that justify shooting all other dogs on sight to protect game birds

No offence but if your friend thinks that Buzzards are more of a threat to young game birds then the buzzards main live prey ie. rats, then he is not competent to be in charge of rearing them:(

PS: I understand your retisense to challenge your friend as a "blow in" but you are entitled to state your opinion too especcially when the facts back you up. Ignorance is what wiped out the likes of the buzzard and eagles from our skies before and we cannot allow that that to happen again for the sake of our Natural heritage and future generations.