ID Raptors (ID'd as Buzzards)

pawrick

Hi, I have pictures of what I think are buzzards taken on two different occasions.

Pictures A1 to A3 were taken last May
Pictures B 1 and B2 were taken 2 days ago. On this occasion there were two raptors flying together and they went right in to a load of crows and starlings creating a huge commotion before being chased off.

I think they are buzzards? Sorry for the fuzziness of the pics and tight cropping but they had moved away by the time I got the camera. Pics were taken not far from Athlone.

A1
[URL="[URL=http://s1358.photobucket.com/user/Athlon123/media/A1_zpsb6o6enca.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q778/Athlon123/A1_zpsb6o6enca.jpg[/IMG][/URL]"][/url]

A2
[URL="[URL=http://s1358.photobucket.com/user/Athlon123/media/A2_zpsooudh7iq.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q778/Athlon123/A2_zpsooudh7iq.jpg[/IMG][/URL]"][/url]

A3
[URL="[URL=http://s1358.photobucket.com/user/Athlon123/media/A3_zpsszpiawfp.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q778/Athlon123/A3_zpsszpiawfp.jpg[/IMG][/URL]"][/url]

B1
[URL="[URL=http://s1358.photobucket.com/user/Athlon123/media/B1_zpsdivckjhj.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q778/Athlon123/B1_zpsdivckjhj.jpg[/IMG][/URL]"][/url]

B2
[URL="[URL=http://s1358.photobucket.com/user/Athlon123/media/B2_zps7ocesvub.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q778/Athlon123/B2_zps7ocesvub.jpg[/IMG][/URL]"][/url]

emo72

pretty sure thats a buzzard. not bad photos either.

pawrick

seems to be a pair of them so, hopefully they stick around without anything happening to them.

whyulittle

pawrick wrote: »

seems to be a pair of them so, hopefully they stick around without anything happening to them.

Might still be able to take part in this survey.

https://m.facebook.com/Irish-Raptor-Study-Group-345679678896374/

pawrick

Thanks, had a quick look at the survey link, I wouldn't be able to put in the time as I'm mostly home after dark, probably why I only spot them on sundays when I'm around all day. Chances are they are around more than I've noticed. It would be nice to see them stay put west of the Shannon

recedite

pawrick wrote: »

and they went right in to a load of crows and starlings creating a huge commotion before being chased off.

Buzzards, yes. Nice pics.
Are you sure the buzzards went in looking for trouble though? If you watch the proceedings closely in future, you'll probably find the magpies and crows are following the buzzards around, and having a go at them. They never seem to get tired of hassling buzzards.

pawrick

Been spotting them more often since my last post (usually on days off when I have tome to wander around the garden). They seem to be regular visitors overhead at this point so i assume they have set up home permanently in the area.

Was watching them yesterday flying over nearby fields and saw what appeared to be a 3rd one. Would it be too early in the summer for them to have fledged offspring? It's quite possible that the 3rd bird wasn't a buzzard seeing how much attention the get from other birds and it was difficult to tell from the distance but they seems to be flying together watching something on the ground.

dodderangler

This time of year would see some fledglings popping up. Could also be possible it's last years chick.

bobbysands81

pawrick wrote: »

seems to be a pair of them so, hopefully they stick around without anything happening to them.

I see Buzzards almost every single day, and not in the same place either. See them all the way from Mullinavat to Youghal, around New Ross and towards Wexford town and on the M9 towards Dublin. There seems to be quite a spread of them.