After all my recent moans about the weather, today was beautiful. In the early morning I watched the yellowhammers flitting from tree to tree, rabbits out in the fields; but it was lunchtime that proved special.
High above the campus, the gulls were screeching and circling. Something had disturbed them; and that something proved to be a group of four buzzards, circling languidly overhead :faint: I watched, and slowly they headed in my direction…
They were there for about 10 minutes, mainly staying in two pairs so I didn't manage to get a shot of all four together. They eventually tired of the attention of the gulls and swept away to the north. I headed back to my office, pausing by a small wood by the car park. Small birds (chaffinches, blue tits, a goldfinch) were flitting in the trees. A flock of collared doves took the the air. And then I saw why… a sparrowhawk was prowling the skies.
It swooped low into the woods two or three times while I was watching, too fast for a photo. I didn't see if its hunt was successful, but an amazing sight to see so close.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 40D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
16 Comments
Wow, another really great set of shot. Love the buzzards together a lot. To see the eyes of the sparrowhawk while in flight is tremendous!
Great captures
Great photos, especially the last one :up:
I didn`t know bird raptorials attack in groups, I thought they are lone hunters :left:
Excellent! Great to see the buzzards interacting with each other and the sparrowhawk is stunning, of course 🙂
:up: 🙂
Andy, thanks!
Thanks Erwin!
Adele, thanks. One of those very lucky days!
Irczas, cheers :cheers:
Darko, thanks. Buzzards seem to fly in small family groups. They hunt small mammals but often find carrion as well.
Robin, thanks. That was a quite exceptional half hour. It's not always that easy.
Amazing shots! The buzzards in formation flight is wonderful.
Thanks Lois!
Wow buzzards and sparrowhawk and good photos of both! Nice!
Neil thanks!
Excellent shots