Common by name , common by nature ......... Buzzard.

In Eastern Northamptonshire  we have no shortage of these tremendous birds of prey who exist in harmony with the ever spreading Red Kite population.

I quite often come across them perched on a fence post or in a tree whilst driving around, one thing is for sure in my experience, as soon as you stop the car in their vicinity hoping for a photo opportunity they take flight.

A very graceful raptor.

Raptor rapture ........

Birds of prey and Owls, are some of my favourite subjects for photography together with small birds, a reflection of the maximum reach of my 420mm lens combination.

This guy was just floating overhead at the reserve yesterday, sadly blue sky images like this always suffer from the lack of perspective that can be achieved when you can include a tree line or landscape background to the image.

Needs must when the devil drives so I am quite happy to post this image of a Common Buzzard as the detail and focus is, in my opinion, worthy of publication. 

Co-existing ......

Here in East  Northamptonshire we are blessed with goodly numbers of Common Buzzard as well as an ever growing population of Red Kites.

Given that both species have similar diets it has always surprised me that the two species co-exist so well when their territories are so close.

I have rarely seen any aggressive interaction between these birds other than during the breeding season when either species will fiercely defend their nests should the other stray too close.

Having said that, if feeding on carrion the
Buzzards tend to dominate the Kites and will not allow them to approach too closely until it has finished feeding.

Otherwise they seem to happily share their joint territories and can often be seen soaring in the same thermal systems with no element of mobbing by either species.  



Douglas McFarlane, another keen Northamptonshire based naturalist and photographer 
http://dougmcfarlane.blogspot.co.uk/  told me the following story.

'' They work together at times too. I was travelling along the lanes at the back of Fineshades Wood and saw a Buzzard and Red Kite perched on a hedgerow. The Buzzard was watching my approach and the kite was looking in the other direction, 

The Buzzard called and another Buzzard and two further Kites took off from the ground where I later saw that there was a road kill.

I parked up and the birds returned with a Buzzard and Kite again sitting on top of the hedgerow, about ten minutes later a truck came along from the opposite direction, this time the Kite called and again they disappeared, they were acting I believe as lookouts ''.

A great story to end on.

Majestic Birds - Buzzards

Inspiration comes in many forms.

I was sitting down in my home office ( a spare bedroom ) here at home today with the windows wide open giving some thought to a subject for todays post when I heard the unmistakable call of a buzzard - very close.

My camera is always to hand and today was no different as I had just finished charging the batteries.

Looking out I could see the bird and in the absence of wind it was becalmed and flying unusually low rather than soaring, as It circled it was drifting closer. Rather than hanging out of the window I knelt down on the floor waiting for it hopefully to come into view, would it ? .... Yea !

I just managed a couple of shots before the window frame sadly also came into view.

Here in East Northamptonshire we are spoiled for choice when it comes to large Raptors, Buzzards are numerous as are the reintroduced Red Kites, they seem to co-exist well together despite having similar diets.