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.
RobinL
2 Mar 2010Wow, another really great set of shot. Love the buzzards together a lot. To see the eyes of the sparrowhawk while in flight is tremendous!
Dudley
2 Mar 2010Great captures
gdare
2 Mar 2010Great photos, especially the last one :up:
I didn`t know bird raptorials attack in groups, I thought they are lone hunters :left:
SittingFox
2 Mar 2010Excellent! Great to see the buzzards interacting with each other and the sparrowhawk is stunning, of course 🙂
irczas
2 Mar 2010:up: 🙂
Words
3 Mar 2010Andy, thanks!
Words
3 Mar 2010Thanks Erwin!
Words
3 Mar 2010Adele, thanks. One of those very lucky days!
Words
3 Mar 2010Irczas, cheers :cheers:
Words
3 Mar 2010Darko, thanks. Buzzards seem to fly in small family groups. They hunt small mammals but often find carrion as well.
Words
3 Mar 2010Robin, thanks. That was a quite exceptional half hour. It's not always that easy.
cakkleberrylane
4 Mar 2010Amazing shots! The buzzards in formation flight is wonderful.
Words
5 Mar 2010Thanks Lois!
Ukwildlife
17 Mar 2010Wow buzzards and sparrowhawk and good photos of both! Nice!
Words
19 Mar 2010Neil thanks!
Wulpen
19 Oct 2012Excellent shots