Identify bird of prey

ifconfig

Three birds of prey in a nearby field since December.
Has been difficult to capture them on camera at close quarters so these are taken with a telephoto and cropped (so they were considerably in the distance).

My guess so far is buzzard based on the colourings.

Throwing this out to the more adept bird watchers for an ID.

-ifc

OpenYourEyes

Yeah it's a Buzzard alright. Worms are a big part of their diet at this time of year, so I'd say that's what it was looking for in the middle of that field!

ifconfig

OpenYourEyes wrote: »

Yeah it's a Buzzard alright. Worms are a big part of their diet at this time of year, so I'd say that's what it was looking for in the middle of that field!

Thanks OYE,

There are actually 3 of these birds in the one field.
All similar (adult) size.
I've seen the three of them evenly spaced stalking along the field.

I've seen some photos online of joggers who were accidentally identified as prey by buzzards and they got nasty injuries/cuts due to buzzards launching their talons into their head/necks.

Is it unusual for 3 to arrive in a field unless introduced their by someone ?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

3 buzzards together at this time of year is not at all unusual. Probably a breeding pair with a juvenile from last year's brood.

As someone with huge experience with buzzards, I would take this talk of attacks on joggers with a pinch of salt.

ifconfig

Thanks Srameen.

Makes sense.
The one thing of note is that they seem to have made that field their main locus of attention.
My wife saw a single one cross on to our land and perch on a timber pergola in the garden but apart from that they seem to have taken up their main residence there.
Might they have chicks nesting in that field at this time of year ?

-ifc

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

ifconfig wrote: »

Thanks Srameen.

Makes sense.
The one thing of note is that they seem to have made that field their main locus of attention.
My wife saw a single one cross on to our land and perch on a timber pergola in the garden but apart from that they seem to have taken up their main residence there.
Might they have chicks nesting in that field at this time of year ?

-ifc

Not at all! They don't nest in fields but high in trees. They begin nesting from March with young fledging about July.
They are feeding in the area at the moment because they are finding food such as worms readily available due to the soft conditions. They don't reside there and will certainly roost elsewhere a night.

Enjoy watching and listening to them.

Kess73

Kristopher Ashy Technique wrote: »

3 buzzards together at this time of year is not at all unusual. Probably a breeding pair with a juvenile from last year's brood.

As someone with huge experience with buzzards, I would take this talk of attacks on joggers with a pinch of salt.

Think the poster could safely take such talk with a truck load of salt, let alone a pinch.

dodderangler

Not really.
I seen a kestrel fly off with a young child recently so a buzzard attack on jiggers isn't rare seen as food is so scarce

Kess73

dodderangler wrote: »

Not really.
I seen a kestrel fly off with a young child recently so a buzzard attack on jiggers isn't rare seen as food is so scarce

All joking aside, it is actually depressing how many people would actually believe what you said if it was splashed across the front of a tabloid.

Think that is where forums like this can help, in a tiny way, when folk have questions about raptors, or any other creature that makes up part of the wildlife in this country.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Yes, to be serious again for a moment, the most aggression I have had from Buzzards was an odd swoop towards me when I was at the base of a nest tree. I've had to toss my hat in the air in defence only once and even then I doubt the bird would have made contact with me. Crossing a tern colony is much more hazardous than any buzzards.

olly_mac

Kristopher Ashy Technique wrote: »

Yes, to be serious again for a moment, the most aggression I have had from Buzzards was an odd swoop towards me when I was at the base of a nest tree. I've had to toss my hat in the air in defence only once and even then I doubt the bird would have made contact with me. Crossing a tern colony is much more hazardous than any buzzards.

I have been "dive bombed" more times by jackdaws than buzzards! I was in the FCA hundreds of years ago, and the jackdaws seemed to like going for the badge on the beret :P

Only once did a buzzard swoop, and that was during a survey of an old building. It was nesting in tree a few feet away, and may have had young there.

dodderangler

Had my own hawk attacked a few times by buzzards and when I recalled her I had them dive at me a foot or two above my head but they had nest in the area and I didn't see it till they attacked.
Sure magpies and seagulls would attack you more than buzzard would