Very lucky crow!

[werdnal]

I had some stale cake today, some of which I chucked to my chickens, and the rest I crumbled and threw out on the grass for any passing birds to take.

Just leaving the house on the school run, when I noticed a crow busily trying to pick up as much cake as he could in one go, then suddenly (as I stood in our porch only a few feet away), I became aware of something approaching really fast. Our local buzzard, who has been nest building with his mate for a few weeks now, had obviously taken offence at having a crow in his patch, and was diving on it, talons stretched. It was all over in seconds, although seemed like slow motion whilst I watched. Crow saw the buzzard at the last minute, and took to the air, flying directly towards our house and pulling up to clear the building at the last minute. Buzzard hot on its tail, only just managed to avoid flying into our bedroom window (a few feet above my head), then persued the crow around the garden, almost catching it, before the crow took a chance, diving through a gap between our sheds, where the gate is normally closed. If it had been, the buzzard would surely have caught it, but as I had just been to the chicken run, I'd left it open. Crow managed to out manoeuvre the buzzard, then flew off to a nearby telegraph pole, shook itself, had a quick preen, then returned to the garden to pick up more cake as if nothing had happened! Buzzard sited itself in a nearby tree to keep an eye on proceedings. I had to leave for school, so couldn't watch any more, but when I returned half an hour later - cake was gone, and so were both birds!

I think the buzzard just regards the crow as an intruder, but would have obviously benefitted from the bonus of a meal had he caught it. So privileged to have such things happening right outside my front door!

[KentYeti]

A most amazing thing to have watched!

Many thanks for sharing.

Bryan

[bob.phillips]

Crows usually get the better of buzzards. One can ofter see buzzards being mobbed by crows and they ( crows ) usually win the battle. But, was the buzzard in your case trying to have the crow as a meal????

Bob P.

[sunnydale]

Seems your crow was determined to have his breakfast, no matter what!
It could have ended up being quite a messy scene; with either bird splatting against the window or the crown being torn apart in the garden!

Exciting stuff!

Tracey