How rare are Buzzards?

Pat_Planky

Does anyone know how rare buzzards are these days?
I saw three in a group while visiting in the Milltown area of Kildare last year but wasn't aware that we had them in Ireland until then.

whyulittle

Not so much rare, but a species that are still expanding their range so wouldn't be found everywhere.

Pat_Planky

What is their main prey? Are they more hunters or scavangers?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Pat_Planky wrote: »

What is their main prey? Are they more hunters or scavangers?

It very much 50/50 on hunting/scavenging. Their diet is very catholic with worms, frogs, rabbits, and corvids included.

OpenYourEyes

Mod Note: Just a gentle reminder not to give any specific raptor locations where there might be breeding pairs

OpenYourEyes

@ Bonedigger

Don't worry! I don't know the area at all, but it sounds like a fairly generalised area you mentioned, rather than a specific location. I just wanted to point it out to make sure someone didn't come along and see that there was a discussion on Buzzards and people saying general areas where they are and then decide to mention a specific location!

But yeah, you're grand don't worry! Just said I'd mention to make sure no problems come along!

homerhop

Have a few pairs not far from me, fantastic birds to see, build seriously big nests.

Bonedigger

OpenYourEyes wrote: »

@ Bonedigger

Don't worry! I don't know the area at all, but it sounds like a fairly generalised area you mentioned, rather than a specific location. I just wanted to point it out to make sure someone didn't come along and see that there was a discussion on Buzzards and people saying general areas where they are and then decide to mention a specific location!

But yeah, you're grand don't worry! Just said I'd mention to make sure no problems come along!

I rather jumped the gun and deleted my earlier post before I read yours above - sorry!To be honest,it didn't sit well with me and felt the right thing to do was pull it!The last thing I would want is for harm to come to that breeding pair and their broods.

Pat_Planky

High Mod. Good advice. As I said in my first post there were three of them so Unlikely to be a breeding pair....?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Pat_Planky wrote: »

High Mod. Good advice. As I said in my first post there were three of them so Unlikely to be a breeding pair....?

Not true. Most likely a breeding pair plus a juvenile, or one adult of the pair with two juveniles.

Eddie B

Common as muck in the Midlands!

mrkiscool2

I just have one thing to say about this...

Follow the buzzards.

Nekarsulm

loads about in north east. Try asking on the Farming forum, you Will be surprised how common. Probably one every square mile or two.(600 acres to 1200 acres)

Edit, and as Homer Simpson below mentions below, have saw this behaviour. Had a pair nest only 60 yards from the house, they seemed to have reared a pair of chicks (this is last year) and when they were all crying, it sounded like a chorus of cats!

homer simpson

Very common up around me in north Donegal. I have often enjoyed a cup of tea looking out my window watching them being harresssed out of the area by some crows, who seem to dive bomb them.

Birdnuts

A map from the latest UK/Ireland breeding atlas on current buzzard range and population

http://www.waterfordbirds.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/buzzard_breeding_britirel_27072011.gif

Also good general info on the link below

http://duhallow.blogspot.ie/p/buzzards-in-duhallow.html

Nekarsulm

When fields are cut for silage, they are often seen searching for squashed frogs etc. Very hard to photograph out of a tractor though!

Pat_Planky

Thanks Birdnuts. Exactly what I was looking for