Buzzards mating

[werdnal]

Our resident pair of buzzards have been busy this week, displaying and flying around together and deciding on a nest site in the copse of pine trees about 150 yards from our house - much to the annoyance of the local jackdaws!
They were really late nesting last year, and the young bird spent the whole winter here, still chasing the parent-birds around begging for food until recently, even though he was big and ugly enough to fend for himself. They finally chased him away a couple weeks ago, so have started to settle down to bring the next generation into the world.

This morning the male was doing a great display flight - climbed really high, then dived and tumbled, pulling in his wings and swooping down like a dart. It obvously worked, as later they were cuddled up in a tree right in front of our house, and mated whilst it was out gardening this afternoon. It great to be able to see them so close, especially when the young start flying and use our house roof as a landing spot.

[Africa]

Wow! lucky you. Please send photos and keep up posted!

[Tracey.A]

I think you are so lucky to have all this unfold right in front of you. I know buzzards are quite common at my local reserve, but I find them fascinating birds. I loved reading your thread Let us know when they have young

Tracey