Increase in Buzzard numbers?

Chelon

I'm out in the countryside a good bit and like to pay attention to the bird life. In the last 10 years I can honestly say I've seen no more than a handful of buzzards in Ireland, maybe 3 or 4 a year.

However, this year, I've seen loads I travel the N3 regularly and you can see them almost daily there - yesterday I spotted a pair on top of one of the motorway lampposts....would anyone know if there has been an increase in numbers?

Someone told me years ago that they used to get poisoned, so I assumed that was the reason for their scarcity, or was I just unlucky in previous years?

Woodville56

Chelon wrote: »

I'm out in the countryside a good bit and like to pay attention to the bird life. In the last 10 years I can honestly say I've seen no more than a handful of buzzards in Ireland, maybe 3 or 4 a year.

However, this year, I've seen loads I travel the N3 regularly and you can see them almost daily there - yesterday I spotted a pair on top of one of the motorway lampposts....would anyone know if there has been an increase in numbers?

Someone told me years ago that they used to get poisoned, so I assumed that was the reason for their scarcity, or was I just unlucky in previous years?

Yeah Chelon, big increase in buzzard numbers , their range extending at a great rate west and south wards , it's more likely that you will see more buzzard than kestrel now in many areas, particularly along the east/ west motorways . Preliminary results of Bird Atlas survey 2007-2011 is showing huge increase in buzzard range and numbers. They are magnificent birds, especially if seen soaring in a clear blue sky , they make a very distinctive call when soaring, kinda cat like !

Chelon

Good to know - haven't noticed many more kestrels around (still a rarity here?) - wondering why the buzzards are suddenly up, has the poisoning stopped?

OpenYourEyes

I wouldn't say there's been a huge jump in the last year or two that would explain you only seeing big numbers this year, rather there has been a strong growth in their numbers and range over the last 10-15 years here. The highest densities seem to be on the East coast and down around Cork too - the West has them, but not in as high a density (though they are increasing there too thankfully).

Poisoning and persecution is still definitely a problem for them (they scavenge a lot), but hopefully the change to poisoning laws in recent years will see that minimised.



Kestrels were the most popular raptor in Ireland until relatively recently - their numbers are decreasing (along with most other farmland bird species), but there's still roughly 11,000 estimated to be here.


The better weather this year might account for the increase in Buzzards you've seen this year? Less rain so they're out and about more, and warmer weather so there's more hot-air thermals for them to soar on? Otherwise a new territory might have been established nearby!

Birdnuts

Buzzard could be considered "common" in some parts of the East and at this time of year there are fledglings about which makes it look like they are more common then they really are(only a certain % of these birds will survive the winter to breed in subsequent years). However in large areas of the midland, west and SW, buzzards are still very scrace or entirely absent.

Woodville56

Buzzards quite common in north midlands, Cavan/Longford/Leitrim - I have seen a resident pair on farmlands near where I live, regular sightings , almost daily ! Seen the occasional wing tagged buzzard also in this area

Birdnuts

Woodville56 wrote: »

Buzzards quite common in north midlands, Cavan/Longford/Leitrim - I have seen a resident pair on farmlands near where I live, regular sightings , almost daily ! Seen the occasional wing tagged buzzard also in this area

Yes - I've seen them in Cavan/Monaghan. Seem to be very scarce still though in places like Tipperary, Roscommon, Mayo, Galway etc.

OpenYourEyes

Birdnuts wrote: »

Yes - I've seen them in Cavan/Monaghan. Seem to be very scarce still though in places like Tipperary, Roscommon, Mayo, Galway etc.

Being from Roscommon it still makes my day to see a Kestrel or Buzzard, whereas that's pretty much a guarantee to see on a regular basis in most counties further east and south!

Higher rainfall can probably *partly* account for the lower numbers and densities in the west.

Birdnuts

OpenYourEyes wrote: »

Being from Roscommon it still makes my day to see a Kestrel or Buzzard, whereas that's pretty much a guarantee to see on a regular basis in most counties further east and south!

Higher rainfall can probably *partly* account for the lower numbers and densities in the west.

Maybe but there is a lot of good buzzard habitat in places like Roscommon. I've family in the Castlerea area in which I've done some birding and shooting in over the years. I've yet to see any BOP in this part of Roscommon, which is very odd Talking to locals confirms my experience, apart from the very odd wintering Hen Harrier, BOP's appear to be very scarce.

Woodville56

There has been a definite increase in buzzard numbers across the east and north midlands - only a matter of time before the extend westwards as young birds seek to establish new territories.

cuddlycavies

Dead one on on the N7 at Kill yesterday, sadly

magicbastarder

i've seen them a few times over the playing fields beside ikea in ballymun - so they've made their presence known within dublin city boundaries.

bernard0368

I have noticed a lot more around lately as well. Last Friday on returning to my car from running the dogs, there were two sitting on my roof rack. Last night up at slade valley one flew alongside of me as I was cycling down the track. One of those times I wish I had a gro-pro.
I have also noticed a lot more on the lights along the M50 this year.

Chelon

The relative scarcity of "BOP" in Ireland is most noticeable, to me anyway, compared to the UK. I spent 3 short days in the Welsh borders last week and without trying seen buzzard(lots), a couple of kestrel, a sparrowhawk and a kite.

Other types of birdlife appear numerous here though....I've recently seen egrets on the Boyne. Could this be related to my observation above?

OpenYourEyes

Chelon wrote: »

The relative scarcity of "BOP" in Ireland is most noticeable, to me anyway, compared to the UK. I spent 3 short days in the Welsh borders last week and without trying seen buzzard(lots), a couple of kestrel, a sparrowhawk and a kite.

Other types of birdlife appear numerous here though....I've recently seen egrets on the Boyne. Could this be related to my observation above?

The spread of Egrets has not been too dissimilar to that of Buzzards, in that they weren't really here at all 20 years ago, but they've made huge expansions since then - and similarly there's more of them on the eastern and southern parts of the country, though they are pushing west!

Birdnuts

Chelon wrote: »

The relative scarcity of "BOP" in Ireland is most noticeable, to me anyway, compared to the UK. I spent 3 short days in the Welsh borders last week and without trying seen buzzard(lots), a couple of kestrel, a sparrowhawk and a kite.

Other types of birdlife appear numerous here though....I've recently seen egrets on the Boyne. Could this be related to my observation above?

Your not wrong. On a recent trip to the Czech Republic I saw more Marsh Harriers than crows!!

Woodville56

OpenYourEyes wrote: »

The spread of Egrets has not been too dissimilar to that of Buzzards, in that they weren't really here at all 20 years ago, but they've made huge expansions since then - and similarly there's more of them on the eastern and southern parts of the country, though they are pushing west!

Seen 6 Little Egrets in trees at Rusheen Bay, Barna, west of Galway city at the weekend, quite exotic looking !
Regularly see them here on the mudflats at low tide

thalia_13

Have seen a few big ones in north Kildare/Lucan area over past few weeks. Always either st roadkill or with small rabbits... Great to see the birds but sad for the little bunnies